Universities warn they cannot absorb 2025 A/L cohort

The Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA) has raised serious concerns about the university sector's ability to accommodate students entering from the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations, warning that critical infrastructure and staffing gaps remain unaddressed.

FUTA Secretary Senior Lecturer Charudatta Ilangasinghe indicated that the Government has failed to implement necessary measures to resolve longstanding issues within the higher education system. The lecturers' federation has previously highlighted chronic shortages of academic personnel, inadequate teaching facilities, and resource constraints affecting universities across the country.

The warning comes amid broader concerns about Sri Lanka's higher education capacity and quality. Universities have faced mounting pressure in recent years due to budget constraints, staff recruitment freezes, and competing demands for limited resources.

The federation's statement underscores tensions between the education sector and government policy on university expansion and student intake. FUTA has called for urgent intervention to address systemic deficiencies before the new academic year intake commences.

The Government has not yet responded to the federation's concerns regarding its capacity planning for the 2025 Advanced Level cohort.