Universities have long stood as pillars of knowledge, inquiry, and intellectual growth. Yet in recent decades, these sacred institutions have increasingly found themselves caught in the crossfire of political agendas, ideological battles, and partisan pressures. At the establishment of the Professor G.L. Peiris Trust for Legal Education and Research, Professor Savitri Goonesekere, former Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Colombo, delivered a powerful address that struck at the heart of this growing concern. Her message was clear and unambiguous: universities must not be politicised. They must, instead, foster the enduring values of freedom of thought and expression, as well as respect and tolerance for differing viewpoints.
The Sacred Purpose of a University
At its core, a university exists to pursue truth. It is a space where ideas are tested, challenged, debated, and refined through rigorous academic inquiry. Students arrive not merely to receive information but to develop critical thinking, broaden their perspectives, and emerge as independent thinkers capable of contributing meaningfully to society. This mission is fundamentally incompatible with political interference. When universities become extensions of political parties or instruments of government ideology, they lose their essential character. The search for truth is replaced by the enforcement of approved narratives, and genuine scholarship gives way to intellectual conformity.
Professor Goonesekere's address serves as a timely reminder that this is not merely an abstract concern. Across the world, including in Sri Lanka, universities have faced mounting pressure from political actors who seek to influence curricula, silence dissenting voices, and shape academic outcomes to serve narrow political interests. This trend poses a serious threat not only to the quality of education but to the very foundations of democratic society.
Freedom of Thought and Expression as Cornerstones
One of the most critical values that universities must protect is freedom of thought and expression. Academic freedom is not a luxury or a privilege — it is the lifeblood of any genuine institution of higher learning. Without it, scholars cannot pursue uncomfortable truths, students cannot question prevailing assumptions, and society loses the benefit of honest intellectual discourse.
When political forces infiltrate universities, freedom of expression is often the first casualty. Academics who hold views contrary to those in power may face professional consequences, social ostracism, or even legal threats. Students who dare to question politically sensitive topics may find themselves penalised rather than encouraged. This chilling effect on free inquiry does lasting damage to the academic environment and ultimately undermines the credibility of the institution itself.
Professor Goonesekere's emphasis on tolerance for viewpoint difference is equally significant. A healthy university is one where conservative and progressive ideas can coexist, where religious and secular perspectives can be examined side by side, and where no single ideology holds a monopoly on truth. The ability to engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints is not only an academic skill — it is a civic one, essential for the functioning of any pluralistic democracy.
The Role of Legal Education in Upholding These Values
The establishment of the Professor G.L. Peiris Trust for Legal Education and Research provides a particularly fitting context for this discussion. Legal education, perhaps more than any other discipline, depends on the ability to argue multiple sides of an issue, to examine the law critically, and to advocate for justice without fear or favour. Law schools that succumb to political pressure produce not independent legal thinkers but compliant functionaries who serve power rather than justice.
Institutions like the G.L. Peiris Trust play a vital role in reinforcing the independence of legal scholarship. By investing in research and education that is driven by intellectual merit rather than political convenience, such trusts help preserve the integrity of the legal profession and, by extension, the rule of law itself. This is a contribution of immeasurable value to any society aspiring to genuine democracy and justice.
A Call to Action for Academics, Students, and Policymakers
Protecting universities from politicisation is a shared responsibility. Academic leaders must demonstrate the courage to resist political interference, even when it comes at personal or institutional cost. Faculty members must uphold the standards of honest scholarship and refuse to allow their classrooms to become platforms for partisan propaganda. Students must demand an education that challenges them to think rather than one that simply tells them what to think.
Policymakers, too, have a critical role to play. Governments must respect the autonomy of universities and resist the temptation to use public funding as a tool for ideological control. Legislation that protects academic freedom must be enacted and enforced, and university governance structures must be designed to insulate institutions from undue political influence.
Professor Goonesekere's words carry a weight that extends far beyond any single address or ceremony. They represent a clarion call to all those who value knowledge, truth, and human dignity. Universities, as centres of learning, must remain exactly that — centres of learning, not arenas of political contest. The future of educated, informed, and free societies depends on nothing less.