University students have been protesting alleged attempts of privatising education

Cabinet spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stressed that no such act will be introduced by the government.

"There is no such act, I don't know about any other acts but there is no act on higher education or on privatisation of higher education," he told journalists in Colombo on Thursday.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), insists that the government has already drafted the bill but only a summary of it was presented to the cabinet of ministers, two weeks ago.

Act 'exists'

"This is the Act drafted by the higher education ministry," JVP parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake told journalists showing a file in his possession.

It is not a surprise that they suddenly remember Tunisia and Egypt when people come to the streets   Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP

"It is true that the full act was not presented to the cabinet of ministers," he added.

The JVP also urged the government to stop "oppression" against university students and provide adequate facilities to the state universities in order to create a viable environment for the students to continue with studies.

The government has, however, regarded as the continuous protests by the students as a political movement against the government.

Mass protests

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has recently said that the political situation in Sri Lanka is different from that of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya where popular unrest led to the removal of tyrannies.

	Mr Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka's political situation differs from that of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya

Mr Rajapaksa has added that in Sri Lanka, it is always possible to topple a government through democratic elections.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP, says his party supports both democratic elections as well as the popular unrest as means of removing a government.

"There is strong anti-government feeling among the public at the moment," he said.

"So it is not a surprise that they suddenly remember Tunisia and Egypt when people come to the streets," added Mr Dissanayake.