{"id":97037,"date":"2019-12-30T00:35:08","date_gmt":"2019-12-30T06:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=97037"},"modified":"2019-12-29T17:03:40","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T00:03:40","slug":"ocean-university-of-sri-lanka-and-potential-contributions-to-national-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/12\/30\/ocean-university-of-sri-lanka-and-potential-contributions-to-national-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Ocean University of Sri Lanka and Potential Contributions to National Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Ivan Amarasinghe BSc (Hons), PhD, MIBiol, CBiol Ex-Chairman of NIFNE and former Ambassador to Viet Nam<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-independent Sri\nLanka inherited an archaic system of limited vision and productivity within the\nfisheries and national aquatic resources exploitation policies of Sri Lanka. While\nthere were support agencies such as the Fisheries Department, the National\nAquaculture Resources (R&D) Agency [NARA]\nand a few Colleges of Fisheries around the island teaching basic applied\ntechnology for fishermen and fishing boat navigation, opportunities for ocean\nresources identification, planning and exploitation were limited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new vision was born\nin October 2000, when the new Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources\nDevelopment the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa introduced the concept of a Sagara\nVishwa Vidyalaya<\/em> (an Ocean\n University).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dependence of our\ncountry on expensive international consultants and experts for national\nfisheries and aquatic resources development needed reappraisal. Our country had\nalso spent vast sums of foreign exchange secured as international aid-loans on\nunproductive and sometimes faulty and inappropriate development projects\nrecommended by these foreign experts. The unique way to alleviate such problems\nwas to develop the national knowledgebase of the aquatic and ocean resources on\na more holistic basis aimed at broader expertise on all ocean resources so that\nnational capacity be optimised to international competence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the\nongoing dependence on foreign advisors for local development, engagement in\nfisheries was constrained within the caste system. Whether it be the Karaiar<\/em>\nin the North or the Karawes <\/em>of the rest of the insular coastal belt\nthere was a stark adherence to a caste based rigidly discriminatory coastal\nprofessional structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an egalitarian national\nleader Rajapaksa identified that a seat of learning of the highest calibre, a\nuniversity, was a much needed first step not only to alleviate the above\ndevelopment problems but also create a more inclusive society sharing the ocean\nresources as a common heritage of the people than fisheries being the exclusive\nnametag of an underprivileged group within it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United Nations Convention on\nthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its Relevance to Sri Lankan Development through\nan Ocean University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNCLOS is an\ninternational treaty adopted and signed in 1982, at the end of almost ten years\nof negotiations (1973-1982). It replaced the four Geneva Conventions which\nconcerned the territorial sea and the contiguous zone, the continental shelf,\nthe high seas, fishing and conservation of living resources on the high seas. UNCLOS\nis the legal framework for global marine and maritime activities. It defines\nthe national boundaries of the ocean adjacent to a country. These confines are\nnot only lateral from the maritime coast to the deep seas but also vertically\ndown to the seabed. It allocates Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) for each\ncountry. The Convention came into effect in November 1994. Currently 162\nParties including the European Union share its jurisdictions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNCLOS itself was\nformulated through a UN Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1980 under the\nChairmanship of a retired Sri Lankan Civil Servant, Hamilton\nShirley Amerasinghe. He was also Chairman of the Ad Hoc<\/em> Committee on the\nIndian Ocean. He proposed that the Indian Ocean be declared a Zone of Peace\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNCLOS and the\nefforts of Amerasinghe at the Conference rewarded the island of Sri Lanka\nwith legal rights to an oceanic expanse that was ten times larger than its land\narea. It was granted an exclusive Economic Zone of 200 miles from the shores\nwith a de facto <\/em>responsibility of being the centre of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All these new\ndevelopments through UNCLOS affecting Sri Lanka\nand the Indian Ocean make the Mahinda Rajapaksa\nconcept of an Ocean University of Sri Lanka, not only a relevant proposal but\nalso a necessity. Knowing that 3\/4th<\/sup> of the planet earth is covered\nby the oceans and that the UNCLOS legally defines the extent of guardianship to\nallied oceanic States, a centre of higher learning encompassing all affairs of\nthe ocean is a necessary development. The potential academic and consultative\ncontributions for the betterment of States, their maritime diplomatic\nrelations, conflict resolutions, resources identification and sustainable\nexploitation would be immense.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unrealised\nOpportunities and the Need for Reappraisal of Development Potentials<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nHon. Ranil Wickramasinghe former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, indirectly\naccepted the failure of his government on oceanic affairs at the 2nd<\/sup> Indian Ocean Conference\nin September 2017, Colombo.\nIn his address he stated Just a few hundred metres from\nTemple Trees, is an Ocean that is destined to define the future of the world. Sri Lanka, located enviably in the centre of\nthe <\/em>Indian Ocean<\/em><\/a> is\nwell poised to play a significant role in determining this future. Our shores\nare washed by the waters of this great ocean. It has shaped us as a distinct\npeople. Our future development is intrinsically linked to it and we share\nresponsibility in keeping its waters safe. We believe, as people of the Indian Ocean, Peace, Progress and Prosperity\u201d are goals\nthat need to be pursued together.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these promising predictions, intra trade in the Indian\nOcean region including<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>the Bay of\n Bengal<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>remains<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>low.\nFor<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>example, South\n Asia remains the least economically integrated region in the\nworld. Unlike the European and Pacific nations, there is an absence of\npolitical will to promote Indian Ocean\nEconomic Cooperation more specifically, trade liberalization and connectivity.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Trade\nand connectivity are central to achieving and maintaining a high regional\ngrowth rate<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no doubt\nthat Wickramasinghe would have declared that Sri Lanka is proud of the\ncontribution that the Ocean University is contributing towards his dream of the\nIndian Ocean towards Peace, Progress and Prosperity\u201d<\/em> as goals pursued together, if\nonly the Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa initiatives of Sagara Wishwa Vidyalaya<\/em>\nas an international, holistic centre for studies, research and dialogue been\ndeveloped further under a Ranil Wickramasinghe government instead of being\nignored! Wickramasinghe\u2019s own words are an indictment on the performance of his\nown government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mahinda Rajapaksa\nconcept of a Sagara Wishwa Vidyalaya<\/em> was a landmark in the history of\nglobal higher education. Two years following the Rajapaksa concept of an Ocean University\nfor the people, China\ninstituted the first Ocean\n University in 2002. By\n2019, the Ocean University of China became a front runner in the world while\nthe Ocean University of Sri Lanka sunk to abysmal levels of being 23849th<\/sup>\nin International Rankings. This was far below even some of the private teaching\ninstitutes and colleges in Sri\n Lanka itself. It is time to question as to\nwhy this globally exemplary higher education concept of Mahinda Rajapaksa\nfailed miserably in his own country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical Relationship Between Man and the Ocean<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically,\nthe oceans of the earth facilitated sailing to unknown lands for nations which\nsought friendly trade or subjugation and plunder of distant lands, their\nresources and the people. Ancient Chinese chronicles up to the seventh century,\ndenote regular visits by Sri Lankan (known then as Heladiva)<\/em> ships as\ntrade vessels. Si Lankan chronicles mention Heladiva<\/em> as a seafaring\nnation, much of it being along the Silk\n Route through the S. E. Asian seas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nEuropeans used the oceans for all the benefits that other seafaring nations\nsought while they are more noted for establishing their own empires around the\nglobe through cunning, adventure and subjugation of distant peoples. The\nBritish empire was based on the spiritual presumption that at Heaven’s command<\/em> (Britain)\nArose from out the azure main; This was\nthe charter of the land, and guardian\nangels sang this strain:<\/em> “Rule,\nBritannia! rule the waves:<\/em> Britons never will be slaves.<\/em>” The message was very clear. Those who\nventured out to the oceans would prosper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of the empire gave birth to the\nCommonwealth which continues the appraisal of natural resources of its members\nin patronage as Commonwealth countries are endowed with immense and precious\nnatural resources. These include millions of square kilometres of ocean space,\nsignificant renewable (wind, solar) and non-renewable resources (oil, gas,\nminerals). When managed equitably and sustainably, the exploitation of natural\nresources bolsters national resilience to economic and social crises, improving\nprosperity for all citizens<\/em>\u201d [https:\/\/thecommonwealth.org\/oceans-and-natural-resources<\/a>]. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It promises to provide technical assistance and support member countries\nin the development of policies, laws, design of fiscal regimes and\nstrengthening national institutions as they seek to implement the Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While such altruism\nis commended, some member states are keen to be independent rather than be\ndependent on technical assistance and national policy formulations of external\nbenefactors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step to\nachieve success in such futuristic ventures is to establish a knowledgebase\nwith relevant competence in scientific technology and capacity building to\nformulate robust national policy to derive the benefits of sustainable\nexploitation and management of the national resources. As an island within the\nIndian Ocean, Sri Lanka\nhas to develop bilateral, multilateral and global relations which should ensure\ndiplomatic friendship for those who seek right of passage within its oceanic\nspace. Post-colonial Sri\n Lanka must develop a seat of learning which\nwould be a fountain of multidisciplinary competence to achieve national\nprosperity and global appreciation in the above goals. The creation of the Sagara\nVishwa Vidyalaya<\/em>\/ Ocean University of Sri Lanka by His Excellency Mahinda\nRajapaksa was based on those principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evolution of\nUniversities \u2013 from Ivory Tower philosophy to Grass Roots applicability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universities were\nhistorically treated as Ivory Towers of philosophical thinking.  Nalanda, St Andrews, Oxford\nand Cambridge\nwere meant for erudite philosophical spiritual advocacy with concurrent\ngovernance advice to the national leaders. With gradual acceptance of the need\nfor scientific learning and applicable technology for welfare and development\nof society, universities moved forward from ivory tower exclusiveness to an\negalitarian wide purpose national and global stake holder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three paradigm\nshifts from the traditional model of an university initiated by Visionary Political\nLeaders. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Open University \u2013 Harold Wilson\nconcept of an university in the air<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The most radical\nchange in university education came in 1969 under the concept of a university\nin the air\u201d named the Open University by the then British Prime Minister Rt Hon\nHarold Wilson. This model did not advocate a single campus-based lecture room\nwhere a lecturer or Professor was the sole teacher of a disciplinary subject or\nunit. Instead it used a headquarters where teams of excellently qualified and\nexperienced professionals defined the course to be taught and the contents of\neach subject. The main teaching relied on new technology through media, the\nradio, television and computers. Course units were produced through panels of\nacademics who formed the Course developers and managers with appropriate inputs\nfrom specialists across Britain.\nThe Units were distributed to the vast student population within Britain and in\nfar flung corners of the earth and the oceans where British citizens were\nemployed as defence personnel or other civilian and trade missions. Regular\nRadio and TV broadcasts formed a supplementary role the print course material\nreceived by students. As a Labour Prime\nMinister Wilson expected to promote greater equality of opportunity for all and\nsocial mobility for those wishing to educate themselves at any stage of their\nlives to achieve success in life. Today, the Open University is the biggest\nuniversity in Britain\nwith a student population of over 147,000. The OU won the categories of\nteaching excellence and Digital Innovation in 2018. Many countries across the\nworld including Sri Lanka\nhave their own version of Open Universities now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Colleges of Technology to\nUniversities \u2013 Margaret Thatcher concept of unification of the Binary Higher\neducation model <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      In 1992, the British\nPrime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher revolutionised tertiary\neducation in Britain through her option of classification of reputed Colleges\nof Technology and Polytechnics as universities. Vocational disciplines and\napplied research became the hallmarks of fame and fortune for these\nuniversities. The newly empowered universities indeed surpassed the\nexpectations of their early critics. Today some of these new universities are\nin the highest echelons of international academic ratings. In addition, they\nhave offered vast opportunities to many thousands of British students who would\notherwise have not had the opportunity of such entry to acclaimed universities.\nThe new universities excel in research and consultancy capacities. The Thatcher\ninitiative has ensured vast foreign exchange earnings for Britain through\nrecruitment of foreign students to these hundreds of universities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • Colleges of Fisheries and\nNautical Engineering to an Ocean\n University \u2013 Mahinda\nRajapaksa concept of a University for integrated management of the Ocean Resources<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        The third visionary\nmodel of a university is built on the traditional foundation of university\nlearning and certification of attainment with a mission to assess, understand\nand benefit from a vast array of natural resources within a waterbody, the\nocean surrounding the island\n of Sri Lanka.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In the introduction\nabove, the rationale of the Honourable Mahinda Rajapaksa to develop this new\nconcept of a university within a defined global space, with clear holistic\nobjectives concerning the oceans and to identify opportunities for a deprived\nclass of people, were mentioned. His vision was that of a statesman as well as\nthat of a Minister in search of optimal ministerial policies for the\ndevelopment of his country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The\nVision of the Ocean\n University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        As freedom,\nindependence and sovereignty are the fundamental underpinnings of post-colonial\ndevelopmental resurgence in an island surrounded by a vast ocean, then freedom\nof thought through education, independence in policy formulation and hallmarks\nof sovereignty should spring from a fountain of knowledge such as an Ocean University.\nThat was the vision of the minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources\nDevelopment, Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The\nMission of the Ocean University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The mission to\nachieve the envisioned goals of the proposed Ocean University\nnecessitated the short, the medium and the long-term plans of action as the\ngoals were diverse and comprehensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Phase\n1.<\/strong> NIFNE\nas a Precursor to the Ocean\n University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Before an Ocean\nUniversity could be established with all essential infrastructure, teaching and\nresearch facilities, Cabinet approval and financial aspects the Minister\nestablished a National Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering (NIFNE]\nin 1999 as a testing precursor to a future Sagara Vishwa Vidyalaya<\/em>. The\nNIFNE recruited outside the national university entrance selection criteria and\nlowered the entrance requirements to encourage the youth and professionals of\nthe fisheries community to academia. Initially less than were selected for the\nundergraduate degrees of B.Sc. in Fisheries Sciences and Nautical Engineering.\nTeaching was from the NARA\ncampus on rented office and lecture rooms. The presence of the reputed NARA staff within reach\nencouraged the teaching of undergraduates. Lectures and practical exercises\nwere conducted by the best Professors and senior academics of various Sri\nLankan universities invited on lucrative rates of payments. Regional Colleges\nmentioned above conducted certificate and diploma courses in a range of\nfisheries and fishing vessel knowledge. Experienced Vice Chancellors of\nPeradeniya and Ruhuna\n Universities with erudite\nProfessors and senior professionals representing the various allied government\nMinistries, Departments and agencies comprised the Governing Council of the\nNIFNE. Challenging circumstances due to pressures from various Unions as\ncommonly seen in Sri Lanka\ndelayed the progress.  The Convocation\nfor the first batch of Graduates of the NIFNE was held in 2007 with the Hon.\nMahinda Rajapaksa now being the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka with the Hon Felix\nPerera MP as Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development [see:\nphotograph]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

        Very much similar to\nthe upgrading of technological colleges to university status under the Thatcher\nvision, the Rajapaksa concept incorporated the existing fisheries colleges to\nthe Ocean University. The presence of the regional\ncolleges of fisheries in Jaffna, Trincomalee,\nBatticaloa, Tangalle, Galle, Mattakkuliya and\nNegombo allowed a future usage of these as regional teaching bases on the\ndistance education model of the Open University of the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Phase 2. The\nEstablishment of the Ocean\n University as a UGC\napproved, Ministry of Higher Education partnered national entity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In\n2014 the Ocean University of Sri Lanka was formally established under the Act\nNo 31. The University Grants Commission\n(UGC) of Sri Lanka\napproved degree awarding status as university. Four undergraduate degree\nprogrammes in the fields of Marine Science and Nautical Engineering were\napproved. The Ocean\n University also continued\nthe previous activities of the NIFNE to offer diplomas and certificate level\ncourses and mobile programmes. These were essentially treated as National\nTechnical Vocational Certificates to enhance the fisheries and coastal sector\nperformance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Degree\nCourses:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        B.Sc. in Fisheries & Marine Science, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        B.Sc. in Marine Engineering, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        B.Sc. in Transportation Management & Logistics, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        B.Sc. in Coastal & Marine Resources Management and the <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        [approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC)]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Diploma Courses:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Under water Cutting and Welding, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Aquaculture and Management Course <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Certificate courses: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Diving, Welding and Floating Vessels mechanic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        [CDC certification is approved] <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The change of government of Sri Lanka following\nthe election of the present President and the Cabinet dominated by the UNF in\n2015, led to a virtual standstill of the progress of the newly established\nuniversity. The vision of an Ocean\n University with\nmultidisciplinary teaching, research and training which served all stakeholders\nof the Ocean resources appears to have evaporated. The University has been\nassigned as a minor appendage assigned to Vocational Training & Skills Development\u201d within a\nmulti-agency Ministry of for\nIndustry & Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons,\nCo-operative Development, Vocational Training & Skills Development<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        China<\/strong> the Winner and Sri Lanka the\nLoser<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        When the Rajapaksa\nseminal proposal of 1998 for a holistic academic and technological delivery\nbefitting an Ocean\n University was made there\nwere no other such Ocean universities around the world. Many countries such as Norway, Japan\nand China\nhad colleges of fisheries education. Some countries including Sri Lanka had\nDepartments of Fisheries Education, Oceanography, Maritime Science etc. within\ndifferent Faculties of Universities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Apart from the\nRajapaksa vision of the 1990s to establish an Ocean University, China is the\nonly country with a vision to follow suit. China upgraded its Shandong College\nof Oceanology to Ocean University of Quingdao. Chairman Deng Xiaoping wrote the\nname of the University (\u9752\u5c9b\u6d77\u6d0b\u5927\u5b66) in his own calligraphic style to mark the occasion and in\nOctober 2002 it was officially established as the Ocean University of China.\nUnder the direct administration of the State Ministry of Education (MOE), Ocean\nUniversity of China (OUC) is now a national key comprehensive university with\nparticular strengths in oceanography and fisheries science. OUC offers courses\nin Science, Engineering, Agronomy (Fisheries), Pharmaceutics, Economics,\nManagement, Liberal Arts, Law, Education, History, and Art. There are 17\ncolleges and one Teaching Centre for Fundamental Courses, and one Department of\nSocial Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        OUC boasts 12\npost-doctoral research programs, 81 academic disciplines (majors) authorized to\noffer Doctorate degrees, 193 disciplines (majors) for Masters degrees, and 69\nundergraduate programs. OUC is the cradle of China\u2019s\nmarine professionals, and it has graduated a large number of competent\nspecialists in marine science for China. 70 percent of Ph.D. holders\nin oceanography and fisheries in China graduated from OUC. The first\nscientist to reach the South Pole, the first Chinese scientist to investigate the\nSouth Pole were from the OUC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        While the Ocean\nUniversity of China (OUC) went from strength to strength and diversified the\ncourses and degrees while making landmarks in global oceanic research, the\nOcean University of Sri Lanka (OcUSL) has virtually reverted to its NIFNE\nstatus. This is reflected in the International University Ranking too. The five\ntop ten universities in Sri Lanka are Peradeniya (1981), Colombo (2023),\nMoratuwa (2495), Ruhuna (2853), Sri Jayawardenapura (2960) Jaffna (4296)\nRajarata (4383), Open (4629) and Sabaragamuwa (4894). In international\nrankings, Ocean University of China ranks at 697 while the Ocean University of\nSri Lanka ranks at 23849. This indicates an abject failure or wilful\ndestruction of the eminent Mahinda Rajapaksa Chinthanaya<\/em>. The losses due\nto such failure are to Sri\n Lanka and its people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Case\nStudies worthy of Appraisal at an Ocean\nUniversity for Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Singapore is often cited as an example of\nhow a small peninsular State can reach the highest levels of national\ndevelopment and per capita income with a thriving ocean based international hub\nof trade. It will be useful for countries such as Sri Lanka to study the oceanic\ncontributions to such developments and advice the government on an appropriate\npathway to emulate.<\/li>
        2. Viet\n Nam offers an example of a recently independent and fast\ndeveloping country which needs application of UNCLOS to assert its independence\non the national territorial waters.  Viet Nam also has to engage in diplomatic\ndialogue with global superpowers such as China\nand the USA who seek to use\nVietnamese\/ South China Sea as an area of\nChinese as well as US American regions of global interests. Recently China renewed interests\nin the ancient Silk Route\nrenamed as the Belt and Road\nInitiative (BRI).  BRI is essential for\nthe global development strategy adopted by China\nto facilitate infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and\ninternational organizations in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. The\nUSA\ntreats the same route as essential for their Asia-Pacific and Asia-Atlantic\ninterests. The problems that Viet\n Nam faces in recent times in exercise of its\nlegal rights within its territorial waters due to these complex demands can be\ndetrimental to its international trading, peace and welfare. Similarly, recent\nincrease of Chinese and US interests declared in Sri\n Lanka and within the UNCLOS designated territorial waters\nof Sri Lanka\nneed cautious handling through erudite appraisal. The Ocean University of Sri\nLanka should offer an international centre for diplomatic and erudite\ncontributions through a centre for international maritime trade and peace\ndialogue. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Recommendations for a\nfuture Government<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          1. A new team of competent\nacademics, entrepreneurs, administrators will be appointed to restore the\nideals set out in the Mahinda Rajapaksa concept of an Ocean University of Sri\nLanka. <\/li>
          2. New University Courses aimed at\noccupational and entrepreneurial aspects with delivery in new occupational and\nbusiness opportunities shall be prioritised.<\/li>
          3. Expatriate academics,\nprofessionals and entrepreneurs and international diplomats must be invited to\ncontribute with relevant new ideas, teaching and other relevant assistance.<\/li>
          4.  Wider educational attainments, research\nopportunities leading to international advisory\/consultancy opportunities shall\nbe created. <\/li>
          5. Opportunities for global\nbilateral, and multilateral dialogue partners as erudite and competent\nspecialists in the following subjects shall be introduced to produce\nprofessionals urgently needed for ocean-based activities such as: <\/li>
          6. laws of the sea,<\/li>
          7. coastal and deep sea defence\n& security <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            (b)\nshipping transport logistics, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (c)\nPorts and oceanic supplies to ships on the Silk Route  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (d)\nfisheries exploitation in co-operation with neighbouring states <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (e)\noceanography<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (f)\ncoastal and sea bed mineral resources<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (g)\nshipbuilding, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (h)\nports and harbours construction, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (i)\nregional and international trading, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (j)\ncoastal tourism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (k)\nClimate change and its effects on coastal communities and coastal  businesses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (l)\ncoast conservation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (m)\nsafety on the coast and the ocean<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (n)\nocean generic natural disasters and mitigation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            (o)\nOceanic Wave energy conversion to Electrical Energy <\/p>\n\n\n\n

             [N.B. The above and a myriad other ocean and\ncoastal, nationally lucrative developments that have not been realised so far\nin Sri Lankan Universities must be introduced.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            • The elimination of the globally\narchaic binary system of education replete with the Thatcherite objectives of\nuniversity delivery leading to direct tangible benefits to the people and the\ncountry shall be advocated. <\/li>
            • The Wilson\nconcept of distance education in its Open University model shall be introduced\nso that all people of the country will feel inclusive within the society in\nopportunities to better themselves through the Ocean University.\nThis will be a blessing to the poor regional stakeholders as local centres will\nassist them.<\/li>
            • Those who (a) missed a higher\neducation, (b) wish to be at the cutting edge of academia and technology while\nin employment or (c) are socially handicapped should be encouraged to derive\nmaximum benefit through regional based colleges.<\/li>
            •  radio and TV broadcasts teaching with 1 to 1\nteaching assistance and care for handicapped students around the country will\nbe commenced;<\/li>
            • Those qualifying from the Ocean University\nshall be guided to postgraduate opportunities.<\/li>
            • Those needing special assistance\nin learning will be guided for success by specialist advisory teams  <\/li>
            • A team of competent academics,\nprofessionals of all ocean based interests and activities including\nentrepreneurs on oceanic resources exploitation and relevant government departments\nwill assess all present university activities and summarise which  types of new courses, degrees and  research must be prioritised for the next\nstage in the progress of the Ocean\n University in its long\nterm mission attainments. For this, an understanding of the successful courses\nat the OUC may recommended. The existing Academic Board and the Governing\nCouncil should be consulted individually so as to collate their ideas for\nfuture progress. <\/li>
            • New courses as recommended in 1\nabove must be launched through utilisation of national and international\nteachers.<\/li>
            • Partnerships with foreign\nnational universities with specialist competence to develop new courses and\nresearch programmes must be sought;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              1.   A Five-Year plan of resurrection to the\nRajapaksa vision of a Sagara Wishwa Vidyalaya <\/em>will be developed. The\nsooner a future government of Sri Lanka\nrestores the esteemed and valuable potentials expected of a multidisciplinary\nOcean university, the better it shall be for a return to the development of Sri Lanka in <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Expected\nDelivery of Benefits to the people and the State<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                1. Vast numbers of new employment\nopportunities for all Sri Lankans in a vast array of above activities such as\ncoastal and deep sea resources exploitation, offering of international services\nsuch as marine defence services to international clients will be consolidated\nthrough studies and education at a OcUSL; \ncoastal and oceanic tourism, exploration and production of ocean\nresources within Sri Lankan Extended Economic Zone (EEZ)  are other projected advantages.<\/li>
                2. The national problem of\nelectricity generation can be solved through the use of oceanic wave energy;\nwave energy is clean energy recommended by the global scientific community and\nclimate change experts. Our continued use of fossil fuel to produce electrical\nenergy is environmentally destructive, enhances climate change problems and\ndrains the national foreign exchange reserves. <\/li>
                3. The eight Colleges positioned on\nthe coastal belt of the island could be used as training and graduation centres\nfor certificate courses at university level. For example, each college can\ncommence courses of 3 – 6 month duration suitable for service in the tourism\nindustry. These may be developed in conjunction with the Ministry of tourism\nand the private Hotels sector. Within 3- 5 years this will not only produce\nexcellent service personnel for the Sri Lankan tourist industry but also for\nservice in other countries. That will boost the economy in billions of US\nDollars. International accreditation of such personnel will enhance the\nreputation of Sri Lanka\nas well as attract foreign students for such courses. There are a vast number\nof such courses in many disciplines which, once initiated, will attract much\nneeded foreign exchange earnings to Sri Lanka.<\/li>
                4. Coastal Storage facilities such\nas those of the Oil Tanks complex in Trincomalee can be used not only to store\nfuture petroleum reserves for the country but also as a facility for\ninternational distribution and allied logistics. The economic enrichment to the\ncountry through such a facility will exceed those of Singapore.<\/li>
                5. Prospecting natural mineral\ndeposits such as Ilmenite and deep sea petroleum exploration and their\nsustainable exploitation will be taught with cutting edge research &\ntechnology at the Ocean\n University. There are\nsigns of vast deposits of yet unexplored or exploited Cobalt within the Sri\nLankan territorial waters. Instead of selling our national oceanic resources at\nextremely cheap prices, e.g. Ilmenite over the last five decades, Sri Lanka can develop its own technologists\nthrough the Ocean University thereby being capable of deriving the best\ncapacity and economic benefits for Sri Lanka. Attraction of foreign\ndirect investments from potential partners for such technological\nentrepreneurship in Sri\n Lanka will benefit local capacity excellence\nas well as national economic development. <\/li>
                6. The training of coastal tourist\nspecialists as well as in-hotel service staff will benefit the country and be a\nsource of internationally recognised School\n of Tourism studies and\nTraining accredited at reputed university Diploma and Certificate levels. If a\nmultinational and multilingual facility can be developed, the Ocean University\nof Sri Lanka may attract global trainees wishing to qualify in various aspects\nof coastal and oceanic tourism. <\/li>
                7. Billions of US$ and other Foreign\nExchange earnings to Sri Lanka through foreign student and scholar recruitment,\nforeign ocean-based job opportunities, conferences and enhanced tourism will be\ntangible benefits of such activities through the OcUSL.<\/li>
                8. Enhancing the maritime defence\nservices; this will generate a vast income if Sri Lanka can continue to supply\nglobal maritime defence personnel and security services as done in the pre-2015\nyears.<\/li>
                9. Earnings through port supplies\nand services may well exceed those enjoyed by such countries as Singapore. The\nNew Hambantota port as well as the ancient, traditional port of Galle\nrenowned over thousands of years with oceanic silk route vessels should aim at\nsuch services through accredited professionals of the OcUSL. <\/li>
                10. Enhanced international reputation\nfor Sri Lanka and Sri\nLankans with the Ocean\n University as a global\nhub on ocean affairs. There are some eminent Sri Lankan professionals on ocean\naffairs presently employed as expatriates in various countries. Inviting them\nto serve the Motherland would give vast strength to develop the Ocean University\nto international reputation. Public private entrepreneurships encouraged\nthrough an Ocean University\nwill benefit Sri Lanka\nin a multitude of ocean associated enterprises.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Final Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Based on the above discourse and collection of factual data, a team may be able to\nforecast the economic, trade and employment enhancement contribution over the\nnext 5-year period by a properly instituted Ocean University\nbased on the Conceptual model of the vision of His Excellency Mahinda\nRajapaksa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  The calculated forecast figures\nshould be broadcast to the public asap so that the public realises the value of\nreturning Sri Lanka\nto prosperity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  By Dr. Ivan Amarasinghe BSc (Hons), PhD, MIBiol, CBiol Ex-Chairman of NIFNE and former Ambassador to Viet Nam Introduction Post-independent Sri Lanka inherited an archaic system of limited vision and productivity within the fisheries and national aquatic resources exploitation policies of Sri Lanka. While there were support agencies such as the Fisheries Department, the National […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[133],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97037\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}