The Law Students' Union of Sri Lanka (LSUSL) has raised concerns over the Extraordinary Gazette no 2313/49 dated 05 January 2023, through which the fees charged by the Sri Lanka Law College (SLLC), has not been presented for Parliamentary approval thus far.
Many types of fees including that for the General Entrance Examination charged by the SLLC had been raised through the said Extraordinary Gazette.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, LSUSL President Shenal Wijesinghe said that a petition signed by 185 students of the 148th batch of the SLLC, together with written representations from the Law Students of the Universities of Colombo and Peradeniya, had been submitted to the Council of Legal Education, seeking a reconsideration of the fee revisions, but there had been no positive response to it.
"Other than some vague iterations about scholarships, no sustainable or practicable solution to the difficulties of the students has been implemented. We acknowledge that scholarships are some relief, and are better than no relief, but it is certainly not a long-term solution to the difficulties expressed by students." he said.
Citing the article 7(3) of the Council of Legal Education Ordinance No. 2 of 1900 which reads “Every by-law, rule or order made by the Council shall, as soon as convenient after its publication in the Gazette, be brought before Parliament for approval”, Wijesinghe said that while the relevant Extraordinary Gazette needs to be tabled in Parliament for its approval, it had not happened thus far.
He said that they had therefore requested the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, President's Counsel, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe that it be presented before Parliament as per the said provision.
They have further requested the Minister to explore the possibility of securing a Government grant to SLLC from the Treasury to assist in financing the daily operational expenses. They have also proposed the introduction of a concessionary loan scheme with an adequate grace period for the benefit of SLLC students.
Minister Rajapakshe was not available for comment.
The SLLC is the only legal institution where one can enroll as an Attorney-at-Law in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1874, under the then Council of Legal Education. In order to practice law in Sri Lanka, a Lawyer must be admitted and enrolled as an Attorney-At-Law of the Supreme Court. To receive admission to the bar, a law student must complete law exams held by the SLLC, followed by a practical training course combined with an apprenticeship, which is roughly six months.