A/L mishap due to three data entry operators:Dullus

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 14:06, Dailymirror.

Preliminary Investigations have revelealed that the august GCE Advanced Level results mishap was due to three data entry operators feeding the same results to the examination department database Youth Affais and Skills development MInister Dulles Allahapperuma said today. He made this remarks at a news briefing held at Nipunataha Piayasa, Narahenpita.

SUSPENSION OF ALL STUDENT UNIONS AT PERA UNI REMOVED

• 3 Jan 2012
• Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
• BY R.S. KEERIYAWATTE, PERADENIYA

The suspension imposed on all Students’ Unions, including the Students’ Union of the Peradeniya University, was lifted with effect from December 31 by the Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University, Professor S.B. Abeykoon.
This was informed to all the Unions in a letter signed by the Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University.
The reprieve however was not without a catch as union members were warned about engaging in violent acts and acts of sabotage within and outside the universities. The letter was copied to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, All Deans of Faculties, the Acting Registrar, Chief Warden and Chief Security Officer of the Peradeniya University.

All Students’ Unions of the Peradeniya University were prohibited on by the university authorities from taking part in a protest march organized by the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) demanding that the government withdraws the Private Universities Act, re
moves the ban on classes by students and the pruning of the free education.
Peradeniya University General Students’ Union Chairman Mahesh Prabaswara Lanka said that he was happy but the conditions forwarded by the Administrative Authority were baseless and those conditions were never violated by the student unions.

ubilee celebrations of Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya; 50 years in Medical Education

January 2, 2012, 7:47 pm , The Island.

Continued from yesterday

By Dr Ananda Jayasinghe

(Alumnus- 1978 admission Cohort)

Former Head, Department of Community Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
University of Peradeniya & Past President, Kandy Society of Medicine

Continued from yesterday

There are many Academic Staff members of Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya who have made very significant contributions to the other medical faculties.

Prof C Sivagnanasundaram, then Senior Lecturer in Community medicine at Peradeniya left for Jaffna to become the first Professor of Community Medicine. Prof M Sivasuriya left for Jaffna to become the first Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (currently, the Chancellor of University of Jaffna)

Prof Jayantha Jayawardene (Alumus – then Senior Lecturer) left Peradeniya to become the first Professor of Obs. & Gynaecology of Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenapura.

Dr T Varagunam, former Professor of Medicine, Peradeniya – later became the Chancellor of Eastern University of Sri Lanka and Dr P T Jayawickramarajah (former Director / Medical Education Unit, Peradeniya) have helped in great deal, the staff deprived Faculty of Medicine of Eastern University in its academic programme.

Currently former professors from Peradeniya are providing stability and invaluable services to the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences of Saliyapura/ Anuradhapura. They are; Prof D B Nugegoda (Community Medicine) Prof P A J Perera (Biochemistry) Prof Sarath Edirisinghe & Prof D J Weilgama (Parasitology)

Contributions to national academic bodies

There were many alumni of Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya who became the presidents of Professional organizations, Some of them are; Prof Nimal Senanayake – past President of Sri Lanka Medical Association(SLMA), Dr W D H Perera – founder President of Sri Lanka College of Dermatologists, Prof Channa Ratnatunga – past President of College of Surgeons, Professor Neelakanthi Ratnatunga – past President of Sri Lanka College of Pathologists, Prof Vasanthi Thevanesam – past President of Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Prof Pushpa Jayawardene – past President of Sri Lanka College of Community Physicians,

Prof Ananda Wijekoon, Prof Chandra Abeysekera, past Presidents of Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, Dr Maithree Rajapakse – past President of Sri Lanka College of Anaesthesiologists, Prof Jayantha Jayawardene – Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. Dr I N A Gunarathne and Dr S V Alahakoon – past Presidents of Sri Lanka College of Radiologists.

Prof Chula Goonasekera – Founder President of Sri Lanka Society of Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, Dr Jagath Wijesekera, Dr Padma Gunaratne,(past Presidents) and Prof Sarath Lekamwasm – current President of Ceylon College of Physicians, Dr Ananda Samarasinghe – past President of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka and once a powerful President of GMOA. Dr Sarath Wattegama – past President of Sri Lanka College of Oncologists. Dr K L Fernando - the current President of Sri Lanka College of Surgeons.

Three academic staff members of Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya were appointed Vice Chancellors of University of Peradeniya. Prof Malcolm Fernando, Prof R G Panabokke (later became the Director of Postgraduate Institute of Medicine Colombo and the Chancellor of University of Peradeniya) and Prof Arjuna Aluwihare later became the Chairman of the University of Grants Commission (UGC) and Prof. Harischandra Abeygunawardena (past Dean of Faculty of Veterinary medicine & Animal Sciences, alumnus – pre 1980) became the Vice Chancellor of University of Peradeniya. Prof Ranjith Mendis (alumnus-pre 1980) past Dean of Faculty of Dental Sciences, subsequently became the Chairman of the UGC.

Dr Reggie Perera and Dr Athula Kahandaliyanage, two alumni of the faculty served as Director General of Health Services and later became permanent secretaries to the Ministry of Health. At present, Dr Palitha Mahipala (alumnus) serves as the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health.

There are many overseas based eminent persons who are alumni of the faculty playing very prominent roles at international level, bringing honour to the faculty, university and the country. Prof Malik Sriyal Peiris from the University of Hong Kong (once an academic staff member of Peradeniya, a well known virologist, who was directly involved in the identification of the virus during the SARS epidemic that swept through the world in early 2003.

Dr Palitha Abeykoon(from the first batch), Ex-Director WHO regional office based in New Delhi, India served well with distinction. Another alumnus, Prof Shanthi Mendis, former Professor in Medicine joined the WHO. She is now based in Geneva as Senior Advisor Cardiovascular Diseases / WHO and has been a tower of strength to the faculty and Sri Lanka.

The Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya, has been very actively engaged in research and produces a large number of research papers, well over 150 annually, presented at the Academic sessions of Kandy Society of Medicine, Peradeniya University Research Sessions, International Congress of PeMSSA , SLMA etc and many research papers are published in international journals. High quality research activity is reflected by the large number of postgraduate students, registered at our faculty (through University of Peradeniya).

Further, there is an excellent demand shown by the postgraduate trainees of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo for various disciplines.

Although the principal mission of the faculty is to produce well balanced quality doctors, the faculty has produced award winning artistes in the field art/cinema. Prof Nimal Senanayake, current Senior Professor of Medicine, alumnus, who has produced award winning scripts for a number of tele dramas and together with another alumnus, Dr W P Somasiri, entered the silver screen by producing the award winning film ‘Sankranthee’ (The Tender Trap)

With the establishment of the second Medical School in Peradeniya in 1961, an academic and professional organization was born in 1964, due to pioneering efforts of Dr T Varagunam, Mr R Rasaretnam (former Consultant Cardio- thoracic Surgeon) and Dr Kolitha Karunaratne. This was named Kandy Society of Medicine, popularly known as KSM. Since then it has very actively contributed to medical education of our country.

In view of the Jubilee celebrations of the faculty, the current President of the Kandy Society of Medicine - Prof Chandrika Jayasinghe (alumnus) and the Council have decided to advance its Bibile Memorial Oration in January 2012. (The inauguration ceremony of the 34th Annual Academic Sessions will be held on in February 2012 as scheduled).

The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya, Dr Gamini Buthpitiya has been invited to deliver the prestigious Bibile Memorial Oration 2012.

The first Alumni Association of a medical faculty (Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association - PeMSAA) was established in 1992 due to the dedication of past alumni of the faculty during the deanship of Prof Malcolm Fernando. The first President was Dr Joel Fernando and the first Congress chairman of the 1st International Medical Congress of PeMSAA was Dr W D H Perera (both were from the first batch).

As mentioned at the beginning, the President – Prof Neelakanthi Ratnatunga, the Congress Chairperson- Prof Chandra Abeysekera and the council of the Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association have decided to hold its 11th International Medical Congress alone with the Jubilee Celebrations of the faculty. Prof Malik Sriyal Peiris (alumnus) will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr Joel Fernando (alumnus - first President of PeMSAA) as the Guest of Honour. Another eminent researcher and Neurologist, Prof Nimal Senanayake (alumnus – Current Senior Professor of Medicine) will deliver the prestigious Congress Lecture.

The decision to invite two alumni as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour at the 11th International Congress deserves full appreciation.

Therefore, the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya as a premier institution in medical education in our country has many reasons to be proud of what it has delivered to nation over the past five decades.

I sincerely wish that the Jubilee celebrations of Faculty of Medicine, will be truly colorful and memorable for all of us who care and love our alma mater.

Concluded

A/L fiasco - Probe team’s mandate limited

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 04:14, Dailymirror 

The five-member committee appointed to look into the controversy surrounding the 2011 GCE A/L results will submit it report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa within the next ten days, an official said yesterday.

Technology and Research Ministry Secretary Dhara Wijetilaka, who heads the committee, said they would only be looking into the circumstances that led to the release of the controversial results but had no mandate to propose amendments to the Education Act of 1968 as mentioned by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana.

“We started work soon after the committee was appointed by President Rajapaksa and we have recorded statements from several officials. We expect to submit our report in ten days,” Ms. Wijetilaka said.

The committee comprises Colombo University Vice Chancellor Shanika Hirimburegama; Moratuwa University Vice Chancellor Ananda Jayawardana; Uva University Vice Chancellor Ranjith Premalal De Silva and Colombo Royal College Principal Upuali Gunasekara.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers Union President (CTU) Joseph Stalin said he had no confidence in the Wijetilaka committee as it did not have powers to make recommendations as all members are public servants.

“The committee is unable to go into the crux of the matter and find the culprits involved in the blunder nor has not been mandated to propose amendments to the Education Act though Minister Gunawardana said so,” Mr. Stalin said.

He said the CTU would file an FR petition demanding the complete revision of the GCE A/L results and for the results, the Z-score and Island and District rankings to be reissued.

The students, teachers and the people have lost confidence in the education ministry and the examinations department under Minister Gunawardana and therefore he must resign.

He said the education authorities had failed to issue the correct results even though the teachers marked the answer scripts with much care and responsibility. 

“The CTU will carry out a national campaign to educate students, teachers, parents and the people about the harm done by the minister to the education sector in the last few years,” Mr. Stalin said.

The student, parents, trade unions and the people intensified their protests over the GCE A/L results and urged Education Minister Gunawardana to resign.

The Ceylon Teachers Services Association (CTSA) said it too would file an FR petition within this week demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Z score and Island and District rankings.

“We won’t accept the Z-score, and the Island and district rankings. We advise students, parents and teachers not to accept these results and wait until we sort this out at the courts,” General Secretary of the CTSA General Secretary Mahinda Jaysinghe said and called for Minister Gunawardana’s resignation because the blunder with the GCE A/L results was the biggest setback to education in this country.

Mr. Jayasinghe said they would launch countrywide protests and awareness programmes calling for the withdrawal of the GCE A/L results and alert the people on the harm done to free education.

Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) convener Sanjeewa Bandara said his organisation would also launch a countrywide house to house campaign to alert parents and demand the resignation of Minister Gunawardana.

“We will not relax until the authorities withdraw the GCE A/L results, review it and release with correct Z-scores and rankings. We also demand the resignation of the education minister as he had harmed the free education system in the country beyond repair,” Mr. Sanjeewa said. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

External degrees are worthless says Minister S.B. Dissanayke

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:51, Dailymirror

The Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake said that the external degrees awarded by Sri Lankan universities were worthless certificates that would not benefit its holder or the country in any manner. Addressing a gathering at the inaugural ceremony of the Open and Distant Education Centre affiliated to the Aesthetic University, he said external degrees had recognition during election campaigns when political appointment were made.

The minister also said: “Most of the graduates recruited to government service through the graduate training scheme in 1970 retired after stagnating in their posts. Students of today should not depend on government service and suffer a similar predicament. Many individuals prefer government service to senior positions in the private sector jobs carrying higher perks. This is a bad practice. The UNP introduced the ‘Yali Pubudemu’ reawakening programme to reduce the number of public servants from 800,000 to 400,000 in three years.

However the strength of the public service has increased to 1.4 million under the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. An efficient public service is an integral part of development. The inefficiency of public service has resulted in the collapse of socialist countries and compelled communist countries to switch to free economy systems.

Students should pursue their studies with a target in mind. A scheme is underway to award a BA degree in English Honours and Tamil Honours and to conduct degree courses in information technology and engineering at the Aesthetic University soon. It is also hoped to award a degree in nursing despite protests by the Medical Association.

The external degree is valid only in the teaching profession. While vast new fields are open to others who join the agricultural sector, the clerical service, and the administrative service, those who hold external degrees have nowhere to turn. Expatriate workers including engineers, administrative officers, doctors and even professors are employed in the private sector. The government servants in the US comprise just eight per cent of the entire work force. In England it is three per cent and in Singapore just one per cent.

The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Nandimitra Ekanayake, Minister of Labour Gamini Lokuge, and Vice Chancellor of the Aesthetic University, Jayasena Kottegoda were present at the occasion. (Buddhika Kumarasiri)

GMOA plots collaborative action with other bodies

Appointment of Carlo Fonseka, The Island.

January 2, 2012, 10:35 pm

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Executive Committee yesterday held an emergency meeting and decided to take a final decision on the appointment of Prof. Carlo Fonseka, as the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council, in collaboration with all medical professional bodies within the next two weeks.

Although GMOA and professional bodies, represented by Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) Prof. T. Lamabadusuriya had requested the President’s Secretary to arrange a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on December 5 on the contention issue, he had not given a date until now, the GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr.Upul Gunasekera said.

He said that the GMOA and all professional bodies did not have any personal animosity against Prof. Fonseka. The GMOA and professional bodies wanted to express their views on Prof. Fonseka’s appointment as SLMC President. At the same time GMOA and all professional bodies wanted to extend the services of incumbent President Prof. Lalitha Mendis for another six months.

He pointed out that the SLMC President should be a person who could safeguard the professional integrity, dignity, transparency, accountability and independence of the institution. In case the SLMC President took politically biased decision, it would be a breach of professional etiquette.

Dr. Gunasekara added that all the professional bodies and GMOA would convene their stakeholders shortly to arrive at a final decision. GOMA would not request the President’s office for a discussion on the issue, because the appointment had already been made.