“KDU decision a death blow to free education” – UNPYPO Gen Sec

General Secretary of the United National Party Young Professionals Organisation (Colombo Chapter), Attorney Delan De Silva, has publicly condemned the recent government decision to bar civilian students from entering the Medical Faculty of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).

In a statement shared on ‘X’, De Silva called the move “a betrayal of our youth” and “a death blow to free education”, adding that it was not a policy, but sabotage.

“Sri Lanka is short by over 15,000 doctors. Each year, nearly 800 students leave to study medicine abroad, draining $700–800 million in foreign exchange. Meanwhile, the Rs. 35 billion teaching hospital at KDU—built with taxpayer funds—is now off-limits to Sri Lankan civilians?” he questioned.

De Silva emphasised that the move deepens the country’s healthcare crisis and erodes public access to state-funded education.

“A university funded by the public cannot become a gated institution for the privileged few. If we are serious about healthcare and equity, this decision must be reversed immediately,” he further urged.

News reports on the government’s decision, which have begun gaining traction online, are being widely shared by legal professionals, educators, and youth activists concerned about the militarisation of education and its implications for public policy.