tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80046713545788798052024-03-13T18:13:58.751+05:30Jaffna University Science Teachers' Association (JUSTA)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-20199477568317933642015-02-12T16:03:00.001+05:302015-02-12T16:03:12.744+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="color: #006699; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">UGC Chairperson gives in to pressure, resigns </span></h1>
<span class="article_date" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">February 11, 2015, 10:19 pm</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
by Dasun Edirisinghe</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama has tendered her resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena through the Minister of Higher Education, Highways and Investment Promotions Kabir Hashim.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
The UGC sources said however Prof. Hirimburegama would have to function in that post until the new Chairman’s appointment.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Prof. Hirimburegama the UGC Chairperson two years ago. She assumed duties on Feb. 01, 2013 as the country’s first woman UGC head.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) opposed her appointment and finally demanded her removal.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Contacted for comment, State Minister of Higher Education Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha told <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Island</i> that Prof. Hirimburegama had submitted her resignation letter while he was abroad last week.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Prof. Wijesinha said that he had ordered the UGC to draw up proper criteria to appoint University Councils to prevent political appointments and unsuitable persons getting the post.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Meanwhile, he has urged MP Karu Jayasuriya in his capacity as the Minister of Good Governance and Public Administration to draft a letter to be sent to all ministers asking them not to influence the appointments of University Councils.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
"As an example, one minister asked to me to include two persons known to him to a Council of a University recently," Prof. Wijesinha said, adding that he had refused to do so and he had no powers to influence any council.</div>
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He said monthly accounts of universities would be available on UGC website as they were funded with public money.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-21027337818172708882015-01-30T20:25:00.002+05:302015-01-30T20:25:20.965+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
‘We want total abolition of executive presidency’</h1>
<span class="article_date">January 29, 2015, 8:06 pm</span>
,the island<br /><br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1185593646p7-1.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
<div align="left">
An interview with<br />Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
Spokesman
for Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera’s National Movement for Social
Justice Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri speaks to C. A. Chandraprema about
the apparent lack of interest in the new government in fulfilling the
pledges relating to constitutional change they made during the election
campaign.</div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. The new government
was elected on certain core promises. The main cause around which all
of you united was the abolition of the executive presidency. Now more
than three weeks into the new regime, we are hearing less and less
about the abolition of the executive presidency, especially from the
newly elected president. There are various street shows being enacted by
activists of the new government to fill TV news bulletins while
constitutional changes have been pushed into the background. What we
are hearing is about limiting the term of the president to five years.
That’s not quite what you had in mind is it?</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A.</i>
There are concerns about that among people who supported this
government. This has been discussed among the various bodies of the
National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) as well. What the NMSJ
envisaged was a complete abolition – a return to the pre-1977 system.
The proposals brought by the JHU are different. There was a discussion
the other day with Dr Jayampathy Wickremeratne and though there may be
some differences in the timeframe it appears that the process is on
track, but it appears that it will not be a complete abolition. We have
to watch the situation. The government exists on a certain equilibrium
among political forces. There is the UNP then there is the
Chandrika-Maithri camp and the JHU within the government’s decision
making circle. If we look at the vested interests involved, Ranil would
like to see presidential powers being reduced. He needs to enhance the
powers of the prime minister. The UNP has a lot of bargaining power
and, therefore, I believe the executive powers of the presidency will
be reduced to a great extent.</div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. Even if the powers of the presidency are reduced, we seem set to have a president who will continue to be elected.</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A. </i>That
problem has certainly come in for discussion. Even Jayampathy
Wickremeratne raised the question whether there was any point in having
an elected president after the executive powers are reduced. Having an
elected president is an issue because an elected representative can
claim certain powers. That is an issue that has to be taken very
seriously. If powers are going to be reduced then why spend money on an
election?</div>
<br /> <i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. According to the proposals
put forward by the JHU, the president in addition to being the
Commander-in-Chief has to be the defence minister. The defence
portfolio as well as the foreign ministry was always brought under the
prime minister in the pre-1978 Constitution because it was so
important. How can the executive powers of the president be reduced with
such an important portfolio remaining in the hands of the president?
Are organisations like yours agreeable to this JHU proposal?</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A. </i>We’ll
have to look at the final outcome of all this. The main question will
be whether the president we are left with is able to dominate
parliament as at present or whether his arbitrary powers are reduced
with checks and balances. I think the acid test will be whether the
president will be able to completely control the prime minister and the
cabinet. </div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. Just supposing
subjects like national security and defence remain with the president –
he will be able to do anything claiming a state of emergency. How can
we prevent a situation like what prevailed during the 1970s under
Indira Gandhi in India? After all it is the president who decides what
constitutes a situation warranting the declaration of an emergency.</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A. </i>The
same thing can happen even in a prime ministerial system. Executive
power can be abused wherever it lies. In the United Front government of
1970-77, Felix Dias Bandaranaike also wielded enormous power. Every
constitution has provisions to meet exceptional circumstances. Those
provisions can always be abused. The problem with the presidential
system that we have here is the power it has to dominate all other
branches of the state. When the National Movement for Social Justice
spoke about the abolition of the executive presidency, it was a total
abolition that we had in mind. If Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha had
contested, he would have left the position altogether within six months
after having made the necessary constitutional changes. The parliament
would have elected a William Gopallawa style ceremonial president as
head of state. </div>
<br /> <i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. If the executive
presidential system is going to be changed, one thing that needs to be
done parallel to that is to change the electoral system because no
party can get a clear majority in parliament under the present system.
Under the present system, governments have got clear majorities in
parliament only in 1989 and 2010. In 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2004, no party
got a clear majority. If the presidency is taken out (or presidential
powers are reduced) and we have hung parliaments, that is going to
bring the whole country to a grinding halt. So it is absolutely
essential that the hybrid first past the post and proportional system
that has already been discussed extensively by the Parliamentary Select
Committee on Electoral Reform be introduced to prevent complete chaos.</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A.</i>
My personal view is that there is going to be a series of
constitutional experiments in the future. I am sceptical about the
proposed electoral reforms because smaller national parties like the
JVP will be left without representation in parliament. The reforms
however will favour regional parties like the TNA. I would prefer
proportional representation without the preferential vote system.</div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. You can’t deprive the two main parties of working majorities just to keep two or three JVPers in parliament.</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A.</i>
That is why I said that this has to be the subject of extensive
discussion. The political party system itself is in a state of flux
today. There is the possibility of a major division in the SLFP at the
next election. It is still not clear what Mahinda plans to do. There is
a small alliance forming around him and that, too, has a support base
which I think will be considerable. Then nobody knows what the JHU is
going to do. The Sri Lankan political party system is in a fluid state
now. I am not convinced that stable governments can be built entirely
through technical arrangements in the law.</div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q.
Your organisation the national Movement for social justice under the
leadership of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera was created for the sole
purpose of abolishing the executive presidency and bringing in
constitutional change. Now, nobody seems to know what is going on.</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A.</i>
The National Movement for social Justice is now seeing increased
support. A lot of people who helped change the government but are
unhappy about the way things are going are joining up with the NMSJ. The
majority view in the NMSJ is that the executive presidency should be
abolished and we should adopt a hybrid first past the post and
proportional representation system.</div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q.
Another thing that we discussed before the election was the slogan of a
non-party common candidate. That changed just a week after the
election. Now, the non-party candidate is the leader of the SLFP/UPFA
which has 136 MPs in parliament. The excuse is that without enough MPs
the constitutional reforms cannot be pushed through. But, the new
president is now involved in SLFP politics. The first thing that he did
was to put a stop to the crossover of SLFP provincial councillors so
that the PCs will remain in the UPFA fold. Such involvements are only
going to increase and not decrease in the coming days. If you noticed,
none of those who broke away from the SLFP or the UPFA to join
Maithripala really joined the UNP. What would you say to this?</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A.</i>
I don’t pay much attention to the power games of the governing elite.
The reason why the NMSJ promoted Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera as the
presidential candidate is because he has no political vested interests.
Maithripala Sirisena is a person with political vested interests. When
Sirisena’s name came up as the common candidate that was one of the
issues that I raised. But, in hindsight, when looking at the margin of
victory, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera may not have been able to win.
So, we had to compromise. That happens in realpolitik. The only way to
counterbalance the situation is with pressure from below. The question
before NMSJ is how to mobilise popular sentiment. But, we must not look
at this negatively because the powers of the executive presidency will
be diluted and some democratic reforms like the independent
commissions and the right to information law may be passed.</div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q.
The main campaign slogan was not the right to information act. The
mandate received was to abolish the executive presidency and to change
the electoral system.</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A.</i> That is
right. When we wanted to campaign only on the issue of abolishing the
executive presidency, people criticised us saying that you can’t have
only good governance and constitutional change on the agenda. They said
that while that might be good enough for the Colombo elite, you can’t
attract rural votes with just that so various other items were added to
the agenda such as reductions in the prices of essential commodities.
But, the mandate of the NMSJ is for the total abolition of the
executive presidency.</div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. If that
does not happen within this 100-day period and only some cosmetic
changes are made, what is the stand that the NMSJ will take?</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A.</i> We have already decided that a popular opposition movement is needed. </div>
<br /> <b> </b><i> <div align="LEFT">
Q. You mean you are going to agitate for the abolition of the executive presidency?</div>
<br /> </i><div align="LEFT">
<i>A. </i>Absolutely!
There was a discussion yesterday with a large number of member
organisations and a series of actions have been decided upon. I can’t
elaborate on that now but we are going to agitate for our original aim.</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-10265850049851770562015-01-29T09:45:00.002+05:302015-01-29T09:45:34.308+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="color: #006699; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Colombo Uni Senate votes for ouster of VC</span></h1>
<span class="article_date" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">January 28, 2015, 8:59 pm</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><br />
<img src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br />
<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
By Dasun Edirisinghe</div>
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<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
The Colombo University Senate unanimously had decided yesterday that its present Vice Chancellor Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama was not suitable for the post, university sources said.</div>
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<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
They said the Colombo University Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association (AFTA) and Colombo University Federation of Teachers’ Associations (CUFTA), who earlier demanded the resignation of the VC, had moved the matter at the Senate meeting with the consent of majority of members.</div>
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Teachers of the Colombo University protested opposite the Vice Chancellor’s office on Jan. 22 demanding VC’s resignation. They tried to enter the VC’s office at College House, but were blocked by university security officials and the police. However, the protesting dons led by the CUFTA and the AFTA managed to force their way into the VC’s office and handed over a letter with several demands.</div>
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<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
At the start of the Senate meeting yesterday chaired by VC Dr. Hirimburegama, some members wanted to discuss the letter that CUFTA and AFTA handed over on Jan. 22.</div>
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<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
The Senate members asked the consent of majority to discuss the letter after Dr. Hirimburegama refused to discuss it as it was not on the agenda of the meeting and walked out. Thereafter the meeting continued with Law Faculty Dean Thamil Maran chairing it</div>
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<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Finally, the letter was discussed and unanimously endorsed by the Senate, the supreme academic body of the university.</div>
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<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
When contacted for comment, CUFTA President Dr. Dewaka Weerakoon said that they would take forward their demand with yesterday’s decision by the Senate.</div>
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<div align="left" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Dr. Hirimburegama was not available for comment.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-55506161074725988842015-01-20T11:33:00.000+05:302015-01-20T11:33:05.997+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="color: #006699; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
New Higher Education Secretary assumes duties</h1>
<div>
The Island</div>
<span class="article_date" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">January 19, 2015, 9:21 pm</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1179678499higher.png" style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px;" /><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
Newly appointed Secretary of the State Ministry of Higher Education Piyasena Ranepura assumed duties at the Ministry at Ward Place yesterday. State Minister of Higher Education Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, former secretary of the Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne, Additional Secretary P.G. Jayasinghe and Director NCAS Dr. Rathnayake were also present. Mr. Ranepura is a SLAS special class officer and the former additional secretary of the Higher Education Ministry for six years.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-67791589583967998422015-01-20T11:31:00.001+05:302015-01-20T11:34:15.034+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="color: #006699; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
FUTA demands UGC head’s resignation</h1>
<span class="article_date" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">January 19, 2015, 9:11 pm</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" /><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
By Dasun Edirisinghe</div>
<br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<div style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 5px; padding: 2px 2px 0px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) yesterday demanded the immediate resignation of Chairperson of the University Grants Commission Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, alleging she had abused power.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
FUTA Secretary Dr. Rohan Fernando said the FUTA had unanimously agreed at an Emergency Executive Committee meeting on January 16 to call upon her to resign as she had already lost the confidence and respect of the university academic community.</div>
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He said they had informed Prof. Hirimburegama of their decision through a letter yesterday.</div>
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Prof. Hirimburegama had campaigned for the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidential bid, misusing her position and authority as the Chair of the UGC. She had also used her position to influence university academics to sign a petition in favour of Rajapaksa’s candidacy and publicly campaigned on his behalf, thereby subjecting the important public office to partisan activities, Dr. Fernando alleged.</div>
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The senior academic also accused her of ignoring instances of clear conflict of interest such as accepting positions on the boards of various private higher educational institutions and her failure and as regards the appointment of the Colombo University Vice Chancellor. He husband was appointed to that post.</div>
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"Prof. Hirimburegama’s husband was eventually appointed VC though he had received the lowest votes in the University Council and that fact compels us to conclude that UGC Chairperson manipulated the process in his favour," Dr. Fernando said.</div>
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He alleged that she had blocked the appointment of a qualified and deserving candidate to the post of Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo during her tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University and further obstructed the course of justice and misused the position as UGC Chair by refusing to take remedial action in the above instance even when she was advised to do so by the then Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga.</div>
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Citing other alleged incidents, Dr. Fernando said she had nominated a don to attend ASAHIL International Conference in June 2014 despite his ineligibility, admitted a student to the Ruhuna University in violation of all established procedures, based on a letter provided by Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa and ignored the serious allegations of malpractice at several seats of higher learning including the Eastern and Jaffna Universities.</div>
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He said FUTA had brought those issues to her notice on several occasions, but she had not responded satisfactorily.</div>
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Prof. Hirimburegama’s action in recent time had brought the office of the UGC into disrepute and that was the reason the FUTA asked her to resign, Dr. Fernando said.</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-614011123807981472015-01-12T06:50:00.000+05:302015-01-12T06:50:11.066+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
FUTA awaits to take up grievances with new admin</h1>
<span class="article_date">January 11, 2015, 12:00 pm</span>
<br /><br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1174941153DI-P03-12-01-%28P%29-Sab--FINAL-6.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
By Dasun Edirisinghe, The Islan<br />
<br /> The Federation of University
Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) yesterday said that it looked forward to
meeting the new Minister of Higher Education to be appointed to discuss
its members’ grievances which had remained unsolved under the Mahinda
Rajapaksa government.<br />
<br /> Former FUTA President and its
executive committee member Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said his
association would call an executive committee meeting after the
appointment of the new minister.<br />
<br /> Dr. Dewasiri said the FUTA
had remained neutral during the presidential election but some of its
members had been engaged in politics according to their personal
preferences.<br />
<br /> He said the FUTA was not agreeable to the
proposal regarding the free education system and the higher education
in the manifestoes of two main candidates.<br />
<br /> "The FUTA is
however ready to meet future higher education minister and discuss the
proposals especially to allocate 6% of GDP to maintain free education,"
Dr. Dewasiri said.<br />
<br /> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-38368712644668411532015-01-03T16:29:00.002+05:302015-01-03T16:29:29.488+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vote to save democracy!</span></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Jaffna University Science Teachers’ Association</span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The forthcoming Presidential Election
is the last chance to save democracy in Sri Lanka. This is the time to prevent
the country sliding into the mire where the ordinary people endure huge privations
for the benefit of a band of rulers.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Development projects are planned to secure
fat commissions rather than to benefit the people. The money spent on
development and the money the ruling clique gets as commissions is money that
lawfully belongs to the people.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The rulers’ boast that they have
carried out huge development projects, while in reality taking an inordinate
share of the money as commissions, is an ongoing farce that is enacted to fool
the masses.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tax money belonging to the people is
spent on luxurious living by a small powerful group. Interference in the
administration of justice, destruction of law and order, corruption and
complete misuse of power has reached unprecedented heights. Those who are paid
by the people to serve them have virtually become parasites with scant intention
of service.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This can be seen from the fact that
the peoples’ representatives in the North elected by popular vote are powerless
and cash-strapped, while those who have minuscule support enjoy limitless power,
cash and privilege.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is true that the minorities’
question has been placed on the back burner against the need to protect and
revive democracy that is in imminent danger of being lost forever.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Neither of the two major candidates
nor their strongest supporters showed any indication that they understood the national
question. It is thus clear that they have no answer to this question that has
sapped, misdirected and wasted the energies of generations since independence
and not just of Tamils. However, it is a great blunder to ask Tamils to boycott
the presidential election for this reason. Democracy should first be saved for
the Tamils to have a voice to demand and fight for their rights. When a
democratic dispensation dawns on the entire country, the Tamils too can enjoy
its benefits. We must exercise this opportunity that is our right and duty as
citizens to cast our ballot at the forthcoming election to secure broader
options for the future.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore the Tamils should cast
their vote without fail to demonstrate our intention to prevent misuse of our
tax money, and to secure justice, law and order and, above all, democracy in
this our country.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Default in not casting our vote would
strengthen dictatorship that would lead the country towards irreversible
destruction. This is the lesson we learn from the history of nations that went down
the path of dictatorship.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even if our numbers are small they
may be the determining factor in the choice between democracy and dictatorship.
Had the Tamils used the power of their ballot at the 2005 presidential election
rather than boycott it; we may have secured a happier and less destructive
course of events.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We therefore urge the Tamil people to
get the value of their ballot by enabling the victory of the candidate who
shows a markedly better prospect of placing democracy in this country on a
healthy footing.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-91212910562890146402014-12-25T09:46:00.000+05:302014-12-25T12:31:43.318+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 class="entry_title">
Brazen Violation Of Election Laws And Bullying By UGC Chairman And Jaffna VC</h1>
<div class="metasingle">
<span class="postdate">December 25, 2014 | </span>
<span class="postcat">Filed under: <a href="https://1.hidemyass.com/ip-1/encoded/czovL3d3dy5jb2xvbWJvdGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9pbmRleC5waHAvY2F0ZWdvcnkvY29sb21ib3RlbGVncmFwaC8%3D" rel="category tag">Colombo Telegraph</a>,<a href="https://1.hidemyass.com/ip-1/encoded/czovL3d3dy5jb2xvbWJvdGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9pbmRleC5waHAvY2F0ZWdvcnkvbmV3cy8%3D" rel="category tag">News</a>,<a href="https://1.hidemyass.com/ip-1/encoded/czovL3d3dy5jb2xvbWJvdGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9pbmRleC5waHAvY2F0ZWdvcnkvc3Rvcmllcy8%3D" rel="category tag">STORIES</a> | </span>
<span class="postauthor">Posted by: <a href="https://1.hidemyass.com/ip-1/encoded/czovL3d3dy5jb2xvbWJvdGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS9pbmRleC5waHAvYXV0aG9yL2NvbG9tYm9fdGVsZWdyYXBoLw%3D%3D" rel="author" title="Posts by COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH">COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH</a></span>
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In a letter signed and dated 23 Dec. 2014 by Jaffna VC <a href="https://1.hidemyass.com/ip-1/encoded/czovL3d3dy5jb2xvbWJvdGVsZWdyYXBoLmNvbS8_cz1WYXNhbnRoaStBcmFzYXJhdG5hbSZ4PTEwJnk9NQ%3D%3D"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Vasanthi Arasaratnam</span></a> to all Deans and Head Siddha Medicine she has written;<br />
“I have received the annexed list from University Grants Commissions
[sic.]. Please circulate this among the staff of your Faculty/Section
and get their signatures. On the request of the Chairperson UGC [who is
Prof. Kshanika Hrimimburegama] we have to forwarding [sic.] this to
University Grants Commission again [sic.] on or before 29.12.2014.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XmAv170eZps/VJu2Enjm2KI/AAAAAAAAAVc/UevkicSLcv4/s1600/a-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XmAv170eZps/VJu2Enjm2KI/AAAAAAAAAVc/UevkicSLcv4/s1600/a-001.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></div>
<br />
We may note that academic staff members have to sign – “get their signatures” orders Prof, Hrimburegama.<br />
<br />
The document to be circulated reads as follows in Tamil:<br />
“To get more knowledge without obstacles, and to march towards
development without hindrance, our best wishes for the victory of His
Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa”<br />
That is is followed by a table for signatures.<br />
<br />
“This is a clear violation of our Election Laws. Just one more! We
may also note from the quality of the VC’s writing the use by this
government of useless persons who will obey for lack of alternative
career paths. We may also assume that Prof. Hrimburegama has sent out
similar letters to other universities – or is it only Tamils who are to
be bullied like this?” a university teacher told Colombo Telegraph.<br />
“This itself is a good reason not to vote for Mahintha Rajapaksa.” he further said.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZvFByI3-Mc/VJu2Osa-kxI/AAAAAAAAAVk/s8jB0nfSIrM/s1600/a2-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZvFByI3-Mc/VJu2Osa-kxI/AAAAAAAAAVk/s8jB0nfSIrM/s1600/a2-001.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-21698747549037785292014-12-10T06:05:00.003+05:302014-12-10T06:12:26.453+05:30The Jaffna precedent in University council appointments and militarization of Education in Sri Lanka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">–<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sub-committee for Academic Integrity,
Jaffna University Science Teachers’ Association (JUSTA),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5<sup>th</sup> December 2014</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 9.0pt; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">By
inclination I am an inquirer. I feel a consuming thirst for knowledge, the
unrest which goes with desire to progress in it, and satisfaction in every
advance in it…[Rousseau has dispelled in me the blinding prejudice against
people who know nothing] and I learned to honour man. I would find myself more
useless than the common labourer if I did not believe that [what I am doing]
can give worth to all others in establishing the rights of mankind</i>” – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immanuel
Kant, translated by Hannah Arendt</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reversal of Priorities </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Educating our
young to think independently and fit them to be in charge of our destiny in the
face of the varied challenges the future would bring, is the single-most
important investment a country could make. For many states, education is the
largest single non-fixed item in the yearly budget. To take some countries we
have close ties with, 21 percent of Malaysia’s budget is dedicated to education
with only 6 percent for defence. In India, the Union and States together,
dedicate 12 to 14 percent for education and 6 percent for defence.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By contrast, Sri
Lanka’s election year budget for 2015 has dedicated Rs.179 billion (b) or 5.86%
of the total government expenditure of Rs. 3053 billion to education, the same
percentage as the previous year, as against Rs. 285 b or 9.34% for defence
(educational expenditure comprises Rs. 88.7 b to the two education ministries
and 90.4 b to the provincial councils, omitting technical and vocational
training given by other ministries).<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
Though the war ended five years ago, the Defence Ministry continues to receive
the largest chunk of the budget next to Finance and Planning; and in welfare
expenditure where commitment is lacking, paper estimates are deceptive </span><span lang="EN-US">(e.g. health sector drugs shortage, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Verité</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Research, Sri Lanka Budget 2013)<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>..</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This reversal of
priorities in Lanka is reflected by other indicators. In Lanka 42% of total
government expenditure is financed by borrowings (government revenue = Rs. 1779
b – Treasury estimate), while it is 20% in India and 14% in Malaysia</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> and debt service, as proportion of total
expenditure, are for Lanka, India and Malaysia, respectively 23% (700 b –
Treasury estimate), 20% and 10%. This means that the Government in Sri Lanka is
spending huge amounts of funds borrowed at high interest, privileging the
Military and squeezing education to an orphaned ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Governments
spending borrowed money prudently to increase investment that would profitably
absorb those qualifying from our schools and universities is legitimate. But
borrowed spending that goes hand in hand with repression, requiring significantly
greater expenditure on repression against the young, rather than on their
education, represents a pathological state of affairs.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pakistan is one
country in the region whose expenditure ratio for 2014-15 on education (Federal
and Provinces) against defence is 1: 2 (PRs. 554 b and 1113 b). This suggests
several qualitative similarities with Sri Lanka. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pakistan’s total expenditure for the financial
year 2014 – 15 is PRs. 6779 b (Federal 4302 b, Provinces 2654 b and Federal
Transfer to Provinces 177 b) and Debt Service 1658 b. The non-revenue component
of the federal budget is 48% and 38.5% of federal expenditure goes on debt
service. Out of total government expenditure (federal and provinces), Pakistan
spends 8.2% on Education (compared with 5.86% in Sri Lanka) and 16.4% on
Defence.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At Pakistan's
Senate Defence Committee in May 2014, Farhatullah Babar, a leading engineer and
left-wing statesman, questioned the security establishment’s vast network of
industrial, commercial and business enterprises throughout the country that had
been kept out of public and parliamentary discourse (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Dawn</i> 20 May 2014). It is a pointer to the course of affairs in Sri
Lanka, emblematic of which is the Defence Ministry’s prominence in the commercial
sphere, including urban real estate and illegal rural land acquisitions. The
security quagmire Pakistan continues to face, along with its huge debt, is
mainly the legacy of the intrigues of past military rule and remains the source
of the Military’s hold on all Pakistani affairs. Yet many Pakistanis argue for
a reversal of expenditure in favour of education, which they hold constitutes
the country’s best defence. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Lanka, the
fact that educational expenditure lags significantly behind Pakistan’s, despite
the latter’s high defence and debt servicing costs, shows indifference and a
lack of will. Two bitter insurgencies are within our living memory and there is
in Lanka no stomach for another. Placing the Military at the helm of affairs
has rather compounded the air of corruption and decay. While casinos and
multinational agribusinesses are making headway, the people, especially the
poor, are more vulnerable. Despite regular warnings for ten years, nothing was
done to avert the landslide disaster in Badulla District where several scores
of plantation folk perished recently. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is it not our
lack of imagination and lack of generosity that is the origin of our problem? A
good education is meant to stretch the imagination envisaging new ways of
addressing our current problems; and justice must be part of that training. Is
it not disenfranchising plantation labour, denying them social advancement, and
prolonging our critical dependence on the cash crops they produce, that has
kept us backward? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Several European
countries (with Britain a notable exception) have extended the facility of free
education in state universities to foreign students as a good-will investment
that would bring in dividends. By comparison our education fails our own people.
With schools failing to impart effectively what they once did, the youth burn
out their prime in tutories and remain scarred for life, with no desire for the
great literature of the world whether in university or beyond.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our system of
free education, which was a progressive step, should have been used creatively
to equip students for the real world. Instead the system expanded cheaply by
passing out large numbers of degree holders (especially in Arts) with bleak
prospects. This exacerbated class distinctions between those conversant in
English and those not. By the late 1960s many students across the faculties
keenly perceived the order as unjust and unequal. Their power was brought to
bear on the 1970 parliamentary elections where many university students
campaigned in villages and helped to bring about a change of government. The
new government did hardly better in addressing the country’s pressing problems.
Since then major political parties have been wary of student activism, which
spilt over into support for major insurgencies in the North and the South. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The logical trend
of devaluing education, rather than ensuring that it is the principal asset of
the nation, is to develop a system of repression around the students so that
they would not challenge corruption and greed. We see how this is done by
politicisation of our universities and giving the Defence Ministry an overt
‘Big Brother’ role. From September 2012, scores of selected school principals
were made brevet colonels of the Army after about a week’s military training.
It means they became honourary colonels under the Commander’s writ without army
pay. The implications are obvious.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a>
This militarisation does nothing to enhance quality.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tame Councils and Attack on Quality</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Though an outpost
of our higher educational system in the war-torn North, some of the trends in
Jaffna give a disturbing insight into the direction of the entire system. The
JUSTA had during the past year raised detailed concerns about systematic abuse
in recruitment particularly to academic positions. What sort of a university is
it where a first class in computer science is rejected on the grounds of having
low subject knowledge? In Zoology and Commerce for example discrimination
against merit has been blatant. This is a regime that is calculated to breed
substandard academics, who for that very reason would be forever subservient
and beholden to those in authority, and would moreover erode any semblance of
university values. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To give an example,
Ravivathani, topped the batch in Financial Management in 2012 and was the
leading candidate at two interviews for temporary lecturer. She was rejected in
favour of the candidate who came fourth in the batch at the probationary
lecturer interview on 17<sup>th</sup> March 2014. The marking scheme about whose
origin the Vice Chancellor (VC) has been vague (and was certainly not approved
by the UGC), placed the onus of decision on the interview which carried 50 out
of 100 marks (of the balance all first class applicants got the full 50). At
the interview, the selected candidate and Ravivathani, the candidate who topped
the same batch, were given respectively 40 and 27 out of 50. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However, soon
after Ravivathani’s interview had commenced, the VC, the chairman of the
selection board, left the board room and was not present for the remainder. The
remaining five candidates were interviewed after the VC returned. But the VC
has sworn on oath to the Supreme Court that she was absent only briefly to
answer an urgent phone call from the UGC Chairman, and then continued to
interview Ravivathani. This claim in the VC’s submission to the Supreme Court has
so far been supported on oath only by the Dean of Management and a council
nominee among five other members of the selection board. Other witnesses have seen
that the VC did not go to answer a phone call in her office, but went in the
opposite direction passing waiting candidates and, as other university persons
have confirmed, attended a function in the Registrar’s office. Yet she has
sworn that the marks given at the interview and endorsed by her for items
including subject knowledge, vision, creativity etc were fair and equitable for
all candidates. While the selected candidate was given 40 out of 50 for the
interview, the average for the remaining five 1<sup>st</sup> classes was 16.6. The
lady who topped the 2013 batch obtained a mere 14 out of 50 (6 out of 20 for
subject knowledge and presentation and 8 out of 30 for vision, creativity,
research and performance at the interview).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By introducing
easily manipulated schemes of recruitment, those in authority indulge in
blatant favouritism. Not only do they produce 100% agreement at selection boards,
but are confident in the belief that the Council and the higher authorities in
Colombo would back them up, even when driven to lie on oath. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our final ray of
hope was that despite blatantly politicised appointments of external members to
the university council, there would be at least one independent member among
the new slate of appointments due at the end of July 2014, who would stand up
firmly against the ongoing abuses and institutional degradation. Our hope was
based on concerns over appointments repeatedly raised in public, including in a
petition signed by over 80 academics in December 2013, which made an impact in
the Supreme Court in an ongoing hearing. After a delay of two months, much to
our dismay, the only changes to the Council were that a doctor and a lawyer, evidently
suspected of a trace of independence, had been replaced. All candidates
recommended by the unions were summarily rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nothing was going
to change. Looking back at developments over the last few years, m<span style="background: white;">ost of us academics have been complacently blind to
the sea of change that has overtaken our institutions, beginning with the
courts from 2006, paving the way to militarisation of our academic life.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Militarisation of Universities</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
war ended five years ago, but the following instance of militarisation coming
from Peradeniya rather than Jaffna shows that ethnicity is a pretext rather
than its main cause: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“At
a recent meeting at the University of Peradeniya…a case was made
for why all student activities at the hostels had to be reported to
authorities. Fear was evoked in the staff of what would happen to them if the
authorities “above” found out about the nefarious student activities taking
place in hostels. The rights of students to congregate, to create their own
spaces of education, and to be agents in spaces of education were diminished in
the span of a few hours. Only a few expressed concern” (Dr. Shamala Kumar, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily Mirror</i> 8 Oct.2014).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
change from the latter 1980s when the country faced two bitter insurgencies in
the North and the South is remarkable. Members of the academic staff are being
called upon to inform on the students at a time when there is no armed
conflict. In the latter 1980s it was the accepted norm that an academic’s first
loyalty is to the welfare of the students and without fostering this loyalty,
there is no defence against anarchy. To inform on students was unthinkable. It
was in keeping with this norm that Dr. Rajani Thiranagama played a leading role
in demanding and obtaining from the Indian Army an assurance that they would
not harm or harass students for their individual political opinions. It was
primarily the welfare of students in a climate of brutal armed conflict that
motivated the formation of the University Teachers for Human Rights in mid-1988
under the aegis of the FUTA, with Professors H. Sriyananda and A. Thurairajah
as co-chairmen. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
a polarised environment where redress for wrongs is not readily available,
extreme options seem inevitable to many students, but we know from experience
that these options left societies paralysed amidst death and tragedy. This is
why it is important for persons in certain official positions to play a
functionally independent role to whom the young in doubt and even actual rebels
could talk without fear and receive reassurance. That was the role many in the
university community tried to play in the latter 1980s. This was the role
played by Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare, vice chancellor at Peradeniya and then UGC
chairman, supported by Higher Education Minister A.C.S. Hameed. It kept the
university system alive despite the murder of two vice chancellors and many university
persons. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
following example shows how this functional distinction is being erased and the
next time things blow up we may not have any buffer. A poignant example of the
present is that in July posters had appeared in Sabaragamuwa University containing
violent and obscene threats against Tamil and Muslim students. In the early
hours of 3<sup>rd</sup> August 2014, a Tamil student Shanthikumar Sudarshan was
according to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Colombo Telegraph</i>,
attacked <span style="background: white;">by a group of five masked men.
Sudharshan’s colleagues had found him unconscious a few hours later, with cut
wounds on his body, severe blunt force trauma to his head and rags stuffed into
his mouth.</span> He was hospitalised in Balangoda and in his statement to the
Police, according to Sri Lanka News, said that the attackers were led by a
member of the Defence Ministry’s Rakana Lanka security firm that has been
imposed on universities on the order of the Higher Education Ministry and the
University Grants Commission<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a>.
Subsequently, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Udawatte made a public statement that
the JMO at Ratnapura found the student’s injuries to have been self-inflicted
and on the basis of this conclusion he was arrested by the Terrorist
Investigation Division (TID) for further investigations and he confessed that the
injuries were self-inflicted for the purpose of a transfer.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a>
The VC concluded that no communal violence was involved.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here we have a Vice Chancellor taking the
place of the Defence or Police spokesman.</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How is it possible for the JMO to conclude on inspection that the student’s
wounds were self-inflicted? The isolation of the victim in a hostile
environment by the TID to extract a convenient confession is too much a symptom
of what Sri Lanka is today – e.g. the fate of Watareka Vijitha Thero who
befriended the Muslims. The victim deserved more considerate treatment and the
issue coming in the context of posters inciting violence against Tamil and
Muslim students deserved a proper inquiry by the University involving testimony
from student counsellors and members of the security detachment – e.g. the
Kenneth de Lannerole report on the violence against Tamil students at
Peradeniya in May 1983. Now the functions of the University have been
contracted out to the Defence Ministry. What reassurance the Tamil and Muslim
students had was not from their Vice Chancellor, but from the students’ union.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An
important milestone in this process of militarisation was the introduction in
May 2011 of the compulsory <span style="background: white;">Leadership and
Positive Attitude Development Program</span> by the UGC for university entrants
on instructions from the Higher Education Ministry. This ran counter to the
autonomy of universities, where it was the Senate of the individual university
that was in charge of programmes for students. Here there was no consultation
with the universities. The Friday Forum (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Island</i> 11 June, 2011) said that the study guide for the programme did not
say who authored the curriculum, but displayed on its cover a picture of the
Defence Secretary. The programme’s module on national heritage offered as its
core, history fashioned as the ideological basis for Sinhalese hegemony, which
no self-respecting senate could pass.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Supreme Court’s evasiveness (see below) practically confirms the unlawful
nature of the Leadership programme. Without saying it is compulsory, the
Ministry of Higher Education web site says evasively, “It is important for the
students expecting to take up higher education, participate in this Training
Course (sic)”. It is abuse of power. The letter to students for the two weeks’
programme signed by an Additional Secretary says the programme is jointly
organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Defence & Urban
Development and the University Grants Commission. What responsibility the UGC
has is not clear from its powers in the Universities Act. It has other
implications too.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A
student Sanduruwan Ratnayake died during leadership training on 1<sup>st</sup>
February 2014. Dr. Nawaratne, Secretary for Higher Education (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Island</i> 4<sup>th</sup> February
2014), while expressing his sorrow for students who died owing to physical
weakness (including a female student previously in August 2011), indulged in
the Sri Lankan practice of blaming the victim. He implicitly faulted the
students for not informing them of ailments as required in the letter above,
forgetting that it is a programme where most students enrol under duress. Whenever
death or injury occurs in a factory, there is a legal process, particularly to inquire
into the possibility of criminal negligence on the part of the management. How
could this be done for an illegal programme where lines of responsibility are
deliberately vague? What happens to the system when this is the dismal level of
responsibility among our leading education managers? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wider Implications of the Leadership Programme</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Five
petitions were submitted to the Supreme Court in May 2011 challenging the
Leadership Programme. The bench with Shirani Bandaranayake CJ, N.G. Amaratunga
J and K. Sripavan J took them seriously enough to advise the Ministry to
postpone the commencement of the programme and then ten days later, on 2<sup>nd</sup>
June 2011, summarily dismissed all petitions without giving reasons. This
appeared contrary to the ruling of 11<sup>th</sup> May 1999 on the Bill to
Amend the Universities Act in 1999 challenged by Udagama and others<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a>,
where the Supreme Court held the validity of<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> local application of international law and standards, and
cited with approval the UNESCO norms of 1997<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a> and
</span><span style="background: white; color: black;">agreed that 'academic freedom
and autonomy are essential requisites for the attainment of the objectives of
any Institution of Higher Education'. The Court</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> dismissed the amendment as unconstitutional, as it infringed
academic freedom and autonomy protected under Article 10 and Article 14(1) of
the Constitution. </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">R. N. M. Dheeraratne
J (who delivered the judgment), A.S. Wijetunga J and</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> Shirani Bandaranayake J were on the
bench. But 12 years later, when the latter presided over the bench that threw
out the petitions against the Leadership programme, its effect was to set a
precedent for a tide of anarchy:</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1. The highest court did a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">volte-face</i> on its earlier decision upholding university autonomy,
to which its leading judge was party. In 1999 under the influence of Lakshman
Kadirgamar as foreign minister, Sri Lanka was trying to modernise its laws and
bring its practices in line with international standards. The new mood was
heralded by Chief Justice Sarath Silva in 2006 ruling in the Singarasa case
that the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR acceded to by the Government in 1997 was
inapplicable.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2. It became admissible for courts to dismiss
bona fide appeals without giving reasons, going back on a tradition where court
decisions, even if mistaken, were painstakingly argued.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3. The ruling (or refusal to rule) that rode
roughshod over norms of universities both symbolically and in actuality
conferred the pride of place to the Defence Ministry in the conduct of higher
education. In time the effects were deeply felt, as the placing of the Defence
Ministry’s security agency of ex-servicemen in our universities.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4. The highest court’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">volte-face</i> delivered a strong message that went wider and deeper.
Who would defend a judge of a lower court or a JMO whose ruling upset the
Defence Ministry?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5. An important consequence of court rulings,
such as the one above, is the loss of investor confidence once they signal the
Defence Ministry to be supreme over laws and customs governing civilian life.
Rather than long term investors who would contribute to a sound economy, we
invite short term investors after the quick buck, working closely with the
powerful who benefit from rent extraction. The lack of investment in the highly
militarised North and the lack of jobs for those well-qualified, exemplifies a
problem for the country’s youth as a whole. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For the universities themselves, the ruling
signalled tightening of authoritarianism and a licence to escalate abuse that
already existed. A notable precedent is President Kumaratunge sacking Dr. D.S.
Epitawatte from the vice-chancellorship of Sri Jayewardenapura University on 4<sup>th</sup>
December 2003, in the wake of a fast-to-death against the VC led by Dr. N.L.A.
Karunaratne. This came at a time Kumaratunge, in abuse of constitutional
propriety, was trying to undermine the UNP government which controlled
Parliament. According to Mr. Kabir Hashim, Minister of Higher Education, Karunaratne
undertook the fast after he was charge-sheeted for leaking examination questions.
He ceremonially broke the fast after Mahinda Rajapakse, Leader of the
Opposition, gave him refreshment. Karunaratne, who became a leading
propagandist for Rajapakse was by him twice made VC from 2008 - 2014, and was in
2008 appointed over others who obtained higher votes from the Council. The
event left deep scars on the university system. Politicisation created the
conditions for militarisation.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Post
War Developments</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Barely about ten days after the
war ended in May 2009, the</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Senate of the University of
Colombo unanimously resolved to confer an honourary degree of Doctor of Laws on
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Doctor of Letters on Defence Secretary
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in recognition</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of their yeoman service to the nation 'in safeguarding sovereignty,
territorial integrity; restoring peace and harmony among all Sri Lankan
communities and uplifting the image of Sri Lanka within the international
community'. The latter claim, an estimate that looks questionable five years on,
is one an academic institution should have refrained from. By an omission the
University of Colombo took a position in the propaganda contest over whether
the Defence Secretary or the Army Commander, Sarath Fonseka, gets the credit
for the defeat of the LTTE. The Defence Secretary had after all no formal
command responsibility. A public servant's professional modesty demands that
any yeoman service he performed behind the scenes remains the concern of historians.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not to be left behind, the University of Sri Jayewardenapura and <span style="background: white; color: black;">University of the Visual and Performing
Arts followed about ten days later in June 2009 with announcements of honourary
doctorates for the President, Defence Secretary and the Service Chiefs for
'eliminating the scourge of terrorism which engulfed the nation for over three
decades'.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What has been sadly forgotten is
that the task of an academic is to step back from one's personal feelings, the
clamour of the crowd and the harangue of demagogues, and to reflect. The end of
the recent war to be sure, like the elimination of the JVP's terrorism less
than three decades earlier, brought relief. But then the universities, despite
the murder of two vice chancellors, did not rush to confer honourary doctorates
on President Premadasa or Deputy Defence Minister Ranjan Wijeratne who was
constantly on the move and in the forefront of operations. Feelings were mixed,
and the bottom-line was the realisation that JVP terror was an outcome of the
Jayewardene government's decade-long attack on democracy.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The core issue of the recently
ended war for academics is why it took three decades to subdue a Tamil
insurgency that was critically inferior in manpower and resources? To what
extent was the failure political, and to what degree military? The recent
unprovoked attacks on Muslims show the political ideology underlying current
militarisation to be an integral part of the problem rather than its solution. The
universities failed in their role of giving the country a more nuanced
perspective that would foster unity. Their recent rush to award honourary doctorates;
and in doing so, to endorse the official position that the Tamil insurgency was
pure terrorism and nothing else, is a piece of deplorable opportunism. They had
neither reflected nor learnt anything from the JVP insurgency. The absence of determined
opposition to current militarisation lies partly in an old failure on the part of
our learned. In 1989 many of them turned a blind eye to the JVP’s murders and
political bankruptcy and acclaimed them as patriots. But the same persons could
simply neither understand nor tolerate a similar attitude among many Tamils
towards the LTTE. That understanding could have gone a long way to secure the
common good. </span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The minority question in this
country has been festering from the time of independence and with the
experience of the world at their disposal, our scholars and intellectuals had
an important role in dealing with it justly and amicably. For them to now
credit the Military as the main bulwark against the dissolution of Sri Lanka is
an admission of bankruptcy. It was an invitation to the Military to put
themselves forward as the ones most fit to oversee our educational institutions
as well. In that process new rules to get on successfully in our academic
institutions came into operation. This was implicit in the decision to award of
honourary degrees, particularly by the University of Colombo authorities, who
read the signs correctly and confined the awards to the President and his
brother. Its vice chancellor was appointed UGC Chairman by the President on 1<sup>st</sup>
February 2013, and her husband despite protests by academics, was made the new
vice chancellor of Colombo University.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Current
Trends</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 12pt; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The authorities have greater
leeway in abusing the system, for they are selected and protected for doing the
bidding of those above. Rules can be ignored with impunity. Though a vice
chancellor may not have a direct personal interest in abuses that require his
complicity, the political patronage he enjoys makes his position hard to
assail.</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">N.P. Sunil Chandra, Professor of
Medical Microbiology at the University of Kelaniya was interdicted about 2008
on a charge of misappropriation from project funds, based on a complaint by two
juniors. The University’s inquiry found the purchases in order and accounted
for. The University authorities however failed to take him back. He went to the
University Services Appeals Board, whose judgment supporting him, the
University ignored. Chandra went to the Appeals Court. The Attorney General’s
Department refused to represent the University as they had no case. The
University hired a President’s Counsel at considerable expense and still lost.
Chandra had been nearly four years out of a job. The Vice Chancellor reportedly
told him, “Now that the Court has decided, there is nothing we can do except to
take you back.” One wonders if the UGC Audit looked into the hiring of the PC.
The plot appears to have been stage-managed by an influential lobby in the
Medical Faculty against a man with no connections. A powerful minister whose
help Chandra sought, after meeting the university authorities had told him half
jokingly, “They don’t seem to want you.”</span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In May 2013 </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">N.L.A. Karunaratne, Vice
Chancellor of</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Sri
Jayewardenepura University terminated</span><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Anuruddha Pradeep Karnasuriya,
Probationary Lecturer in Political Science, by falsifying the date of
submission of his M. Phil thesis to one past the deadline. The lecturer had
been an outspoken critic of government policy on education (FUTA).</span></i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Election
of the Dean of Medicine in the University of Colombo was held about October
2014. The result was a tie. One candidate stood down, and when the new poll was
called, Jennifer Perera, Professor of Microbiolgy was elected unanimously. Dr.
Kumara Hirimburegama, the vice chancellor, refused to appoint her. He had on
occasions without any basis reportedly accused Prof. Perera of misappropriation
of project money. His wife being the UGC Chairman, the unions had earlier
protested a conflict of interest in appointing her husband vice chancellor. Here
too the harassment is thought to lie not in the VC’s personal interest but in
the influence of a lobby in the Medical Faculty. </span></i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%; margin: 6pt 3.75pt 1pt 2.25pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In universities in the
South, controls are not as tight as the Government would like to make them. Of
three names the Council must send the President after voting, an independent
person often scores highest. This was so with Prof. Jayantha Jayawardena in 2008
and Prof. Mohan de Silva in 2014, both from Sri Jayewardenapura University,
whom the President rejected. Such a practice becomes in effect a form of
control. Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri of Colombo University told Ceylon Today (7
Apr. 2013), “</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In fact, most senior professors don't apply
for [vice chancellors’] posts as it is useless to do so without political
backing. It has become a norm that political appointees are favoured when it
comes to these appointments.” Jaffna is perhaps the model that has been
experimented with and which the Government would like to impose.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Jaffna Model</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Jaffna Council appointments are virtually
the monopoly of a single pro-government political party. Pre-council meetings
of external council members (14 out of 27) presided over by the political
leader routinely precede each council meeting. On 7<sup>th</sup> March 2014 the
day before the VC’s election, the political leader told the external members at
the pre-council meeting how they should vote. Later in the evening, the Vice
Chancellor who stood for re-election met the political leader and the same
night called the deans (ex-officio councillors) to rally the doubtful. Of the
25 eligible to vote, she secured votes from 24! The Dean of Arts who is
suspected of being the exception is reportedly having a difficult time. Many
academics who longed for a new council with some dissenting voices are aghast,
but dare not complain aloud. The Vice Chancellor exercises a tight control over
their study leave requests and promotions.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JUSTA had taken a lead in exposing
malpractices particularly in academic recruitment. Its Secretary has a
brilliant academic record. Having done his MSc in Canada and returned he had
fulfilled his condition to be absorbed into the permanent staff, but
furtherance of his career and upgrading his skills require him to finish his
PhD for which he had an offer from Canada last September. The Department of
Mathematics and Statistics fully supported his going. The Vice Chancellor
turned down his leave request on the basis of an anomaly in Circular 959 which
discriminated between persons who obtained their Masters’ locally and those who
got them abroad – unlike the former, it required the latter to teach four years
before going abroad for a PhD. It was to squander an opportunity that may not
come again, resulting in crippling the Secretary’s career, apart from a
tremendous loss to the University.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Neither the UGC nor the VC is a stickler for
rules. The case could easily have been argued before the Council and the UGC (to
which too the Secretary had appealed) by the VC and Dean. In this instance it
was not done. It demonstrates the relative ease with which academics are made
to toe the line, but students are different. The following instances give an
idea of how it works.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">K. Thavapalan was elected president of the
University Students Union in early 2011, whom the Vice Chancellor at first
refused to meet or acknowledge. Later in October he was brutally attacked by
paramilitary men. The earlier president who wanted to help displaced students
in the Vanni with study materials was warned off by the Police. Senior Army
officers had privately said that the job of the students is to study, and they
would not tolerate any political involvement by them. To this end regular
attempts are made to isolate students in Jaffna from sharing common concerns
with activists from the South. On 9<sup>th</sup> December 2011, two members of
the Frontline Socialist Party, Lalith Kumar and Kugan Muruganandan, who visited
Jaffna, disappeared. The next example is instructive.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Commemoration of
Dr. Rajani Thiranagama, 20<sup>th</sup> – 21<sup>st</sup> September 2014:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Rajani, a former
colleague of the Vice Chancellor’s on the Medical Faculty staff and Head of
Anatomy, was one of the rare persons killed for standing up against all
purveyors of terror. To commemorate her 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary,
Kailasapathy Auditorium was booked six weeks in advance and the Dean of Arts
who was in charge and Assistant Registrar Arts had given assurance of its
availability. The Medical auditorium too had been booked for the previous day,
20<sup>th</sup> September, by the Medical Students’ Union. Many academics from
the South had indicated that they would attend.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On 16<sup>th</sup> September, the Vice
Chancellor abruptly refused the use of Kailasapathy Auditorium for the commemoration
on the 21<sup>st</sup>. The organisers in turn booked the Public Library
Auditorium. The following day, the Dean Medicine received a call from someone
who impressed him as a high ranking military official warning him that if the
first day’s commemoration went ahead in the Medical Faculty Auditorium, they
would come out and stop it. On the 20<sup>th</sup> the Municipal Commissioner
refused the use of the Public Library Auditorium booked for the following day,
hinting that the order came from the Provincial Governor, a retired
major-general. However alternative arrangements were made and the commemoration
went ahead.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Defence Ministry, which uses alleged
LTTE resurgence as a pretext for heavy-handed security measures, could not have
even dimly discerned an LTTE revival in the commemoration. What seems the real
reason is that they do not want any gathering that would create common ground
by challenging nationalism on both sides and open discussion on the real issues
of democracy that confront all communities.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some facts are instructive.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Vice Chancellor Arasaratnam told <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Hindu</i> (23. Sept.14) her reasons for revoking the booking of Kailasapathy
Auditorium, “No one came to me to obtain permission” and added some of the
organisers, working with the University, were ‘always troublemakers’. The last
is what several medical colleagues thought of Rajani for her ethical stand on
issues. They were instrumental in squashing the request to the Senate by the
Medical Students’ Union and Employees Union, shortly after her death, to name
the new medical auditorium after her.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We learnt that a similar view was shared by
senior military officers in Jaffna, who thought the organisers had not followed
proper procedure. This appears to be rooted in the Vice Chancellor’s mistaken
perception that she should minutely control every university event </span><span lang="EN-US">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in this
instance a proper academic function. The Dean (and Acting Dean of Arts) whose
function it was (as the application form indicates) to approve the use of the
auditorium was left looking hurt and sheepish at the Vice Chancellor violating
proper limits to her authority. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One who knew Rajani well asked a
senior defence official about the phone call to the Medical Dean and besides,
whether the LTTE could have made that call? The official immediately responded
that it cannot be. This kind of paranoid security regime in which the Defence
Ministry is involving university administrations, resembles the late Communist
regime in Czechoslavia – one at which the writer Vaclav Havel poked fun
devastatingly.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Restoring Value
and Respect for the Process of Education</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The value our education authorities
accord to the process of education is reflected in the way they treat students.
At the opening ceremony for a women students’ hostel at Sabaragamuva
University, the Minister for Higher Education, in the face of student
opposition to his presence, said in his speech that the protesters are flies
and had it not been so close to an election, they would have given the students
suitable treatment. Nevertheless, an attack on students by 30 men with iron
rods, swords and petrol bombs a few days later, left 13 students hospitalised
with injuries. The Police who were nearby had failed to respond to pleas for
help. Adding to the catalogue of similar incidents are a) the brutal attack by a
riot squad on students in Jaffna on 28<sup>th</sup> November 2012, who only
wanted to walk peacefully holding banners from one entrance of the University
to another 100 yards away and b) the attack by paramilitary men wielding metal
rods on two individual student leaders. JUSTA’s documented complaints about
abuses in recruitment have not received any response from the university
authorities, the Council or the UGC.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This all force and no-dialogue
approach to students (and academics) in Lanka, which has a long democratic tradition,
contrasts sharply with the more business-minded and image-conscious Chinese
authorities’ restrained approach to student protests in Hong Kong. The
students’ demand for more democracy has not been condemned by the authorities
as illegitimate. At least up to now the Justice Secretary in Hong Kong has
promised investigations into cases of police brutality. The Chinese authorities
seem to have learnt some lessons from the blood-letting in Tienanmen Square on
4<sup>th</sup> June 1989, which they could ill-afford to repeat.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What the reflex of authoritarianism
and brutality in the sphere of education in Sri Lanka shows is that our leaders
have no vision for education as the main plank of national well-being. They
rather want to preserve an underfunded system deploying repression to subdue
discontent. Meanwhile huge borrowed funds are spent on dubious ventures. This
is the background to militarisation. Pakistan has gone down this road before
us. To quote a Pakistani commentator from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
News</i> (4 Jun.2014): “</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Economists believe that worse is yet to come, as
paying this huge amount is impossible without more loans, sharp austerity or
running down the country’s already depleted reserves. This allocated amount for
debt servicing is even more than expenditure on health and education sectors</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We need to open a vigorous national debate on these issues
before it is too late.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br clear="all" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.treasury.gov.lk/images/depts/nbd/docs/budgetestimates/2015/draft/vol1-eng.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="background: white;">http://www.treasury.gov.lk/images/depts/nbd/docs/budgetestimates/2015/draft/vol1-eng.pdf</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.veriteresearch.org/research-spreport-archives.cfm">http://www.veriteresearch.org/research-spreport-archives.cfm</a>
<a href="http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130505/news/dengue-net-on-death-toll-money-unspent-43394.html">http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130505/news/dengue-net-on-death-toll-money-unspent-43394.html</a>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://info.maybank2u.com.sg/pdf/investment-insurance/misc/misc07.pdf">http://info.maybank2u.com.sg/pdf/investment-insurance/misc/misc07.pdf</a>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US">http://tribune.com.pk/story/725622/provincial-issue-education-is-a-concern-but-only-on-paper/
<a href="http://finance.gov.pk/budget/Budget_in_Brief_2014_15.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="background: white;">http://finance.gov.pk/budget/Budget_in_Brief_2014_15.pdf</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.nation.lk/edition/fine/item/10922-principal-brevet-colonels-and-extension-of-militarization.html">http://www.nation.lk/edition/fine/item/10922-principal-brevet-colonels-and-extension-of-militarization.html</a>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=62568">http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=62568</a>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[7]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=police-legal/no-incidents-communal-violence-sab-university-vc">http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=police-legal/no-incidents-communal-violence-sab-university-vc</a>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[8]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://uteachers.blogspot.com/2011/06/supreme-court-determination-on.html">http://uteachers.blogspot.com/2011/06/supreme-court-determination-on.html</a>
</span></span></div>
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<div id="ftn9" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[9]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: black;">"the right, without constriction by
prescribed doctrine, to freedom of teaching and discussions, freedom in
carrying out research and disseminating and publishing the results thereof,
freedom to express freely their opinion about the institution or system in
which they work, freedom from institutional censorship and freedom to
participate in professional or representative academic bodies."</span></span></span></div>
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<div id="ftn10" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8004671354578879805#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[10]</span></span></span></span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Nigel Rodley, Israel Law Review, <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1333324">http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1333324</a></span>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-83634574864559049722014-12-10T05:54:00.003+05:302014-12-10T05:54:50.852+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: maroon;"><em><strong>The Island 10/12/2014 </strong></em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: maroon;"><em><strong>The Federation of
University Teachers Associations (FUTA) yesterday staged a protest
opposite the University Grants Commission (UGC) against the admission of
a female student to the Ruhuna University allegedly on a request from a
government MP, sending a UGC official on an overseas trip at the
expense of a university and several other issues. A section of the
protestors.</strong></em></span><br />
Pic by Sujatha Jayaratne<br />
<br />
<img align="top" alt="" border="1" class="home_flash_img " src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/16591418136206main.jpg" /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-87298007078833120912014-11-28T08:33:00.002+05:302014-11-28T08:33:18.888+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
<div align="LEFT">
Delay in appointing Dean:</div>
<b>Medical dons put off strike</b></h1>
<span class="article_date">November 27, 2014, 10:25 pm</span>
, The Island<br /><br />
<b>by Dilanthi Jayamanne </b> <div align="LEFT">
The Faculty of
Medicine Teachers Association (FMTA) yesterday called off its token
strike and re-scheduled it for Dec. 4 following a decision taken at a
meeting held on Wednesday (26) evening.</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
President
of the FMTA, Prof. C. Deepal Mathew said that his association,
however, hoped to discuss the matter with the Colombo University
authorities and the Minister of Higher Education again before launching
the strike.</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
Responding to the Colombo
University Vice Chancellor's comment that the there was a financial
inquiry against the senior professor elected as the new Dean of the
Colombo Medical Faculty, Prof. Mathew said that the alleged inquiry was
about a research grant for an education programme. The total amount
had not been utilized as was more than the estimated cost, he said. The
balance had been transferred to the Colombo University account.</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
Anyone
could seek the opinion of the Attorney General. But, there was no
legal barrier against appointing the Dean elect. "However we will
remember that it would be the students and their parents who would
suffer if we go on strike and no one else," he said.</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
The
FMTA was to brief the press regarding the token strike yesterday
morning, but journalists were turned away at the Medical Faculty gate
on the grounds that the university authorities had not been informed of
the media event.</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
Prof. Mathew, who is the Head
of the Biochemistry Unit of the Medical Faculty, said that he had
discussed the matter with the security officers at the gate and he had
been told that only the print media would be allowed in.</div>
<br /> <div align="LEFT">
Meanwhile,
Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University, Kumara Hirimburegama said
that the University could not appoint a person who had a financial
inquiry against him a. However they were seeking the AG's opinion on
the matter.</div>
<div class="row">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-57671512747691468402014-11-18T04:47:00.003+05:302014-11-18T04:47:50.457+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
JVP blames SB of bungling plan to make Lanka an education hub</h1>
<span class="article_date">The Island, November 17, 2014, 12:00 pm</span>
<br /><br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1143703006ble.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
By Saman Indrajith<br />
<br /> The government had proposed to make
Sri Lanka the centre of education in the region by 2020 but that would
not be feasible as the country’s education sector on its last legs
thanks to the politicos, the JVP said in Parliament yesterday.<br />
<br /> JVP
Colombo District MP Sunil Handunnetti participating in the committee
stage debate on budget 2015 under the expenditure heads of the Ministry
of Higher Education said that higher education sector had collapsed
owing to appointing a minister who treats university students as
animals.<br />
<br /> "The government boasts of converting the country
into a centre of education by 2020, but at the rate we are going, what
seems feasible is converting Sri Lanka into a place where animals are
taught. The Minister himself calls university students animals. If he
the Minister is going to treat University students like animals, there
is no hope of making Sri Lanka an education hub by 2020" MP Handunnetti
said.<br />
<br /> Handunnetti accused Minister of Higher Education S.B.
Dissanayake, of using the universities for political purposes. "The
Minister sees senior staff members in universities as UPFA supporters
and uses them as political tools. The government accused us the JVP of
having a political representatives in universities when it is you all
who have politicized the University system" Handunnetti said.<br />
<br /> He
noted that the banning of student councils in universities was a
violation of human rights of students. "It has been 600 days since the
Human Rights commission notified the government that it was a violation
of the students human rights to ban student associations; but still no
action has been taken by the state to allow university students to form
Student Associations" the MP said.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-42054536501598218822014-11-07T07:00:00.001+05:302014-11-07T07:01:27.635+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Undergrads launch signature campaign against PMC, fee-paying university courses</h1>
<span class="article_date">November 6, 2014, 9:47 pm</span>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="" src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" height="70" width="368" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
by Dasun Edirisinghe<br />
<br />
Undergraduates launched a
campaign to collect signatures on a 50-foot-long banner in protest
against the Malabe Private Medical College, fee-paying courses offered
by national universities and funds collected by schools from parents.<br />
<br />
Convener
of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Najith Indika said
that the university students had launched their campaign from Fort
Railway Station and already collected a large number of signatures in
Galle and Anuradhapura.<br />
<br />
He said that they expected to
collect signatures for the banner from 150 towns in the country within
three weeks. "We educate people on present education privatization
plans and launch leaflet distribution campaigns parallel to collecting
signatures."<br />
<br />
At the SLFP Media Conference on Wednesday,
Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said some
parents donated money to schools on their own and principals did not
ask for funds.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-49340290636830195332014-11-04T01:18:00.003+05:302014-11-04T01:18:30.661+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Docs out for higher education secy.’s scalp</h1>
<h1 style="font-size: 12pt;">
<b> Delay in issuing amended gazette on PMCs</b></h1>
<h1 style="font-size: 12pt;">
<b> </b><img alt="" height="70" src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" width="368" /></h1>
<span class="article_date">November 3, 2014, 9:58 pm</span>
<br /><br />
By Don Asoka Wijewardena<br />
<br /> The Government Medical
Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday decided to write a letter to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa seeking the removal of Higher Education
Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, who had, it said,
failed to issue the amended gazette notification on degree awarding
status of non-state institutes.<br />
<br /> GMOA Executive Committee
member Dr. Narth Wijesuriya, addressing the media yesterday, alleged
that the Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Navaratne had issued a
gazette notification on August 22, 2013 recognising some non-state
organisations as degree awarding Institutes.<br />
<br /> Dr. Wijesuriya
said Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) President Prof. Carlo Fonseka had
requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa to instruct Higher Education
Ministry Secretary Navarathne to amend the gazette notification. The
President had subsequently instructed Dr. Navaratne to cancel the
notification issued on August 22, 2013 and issue another one. But, Dr.
Navaratne had not carried out the presidential order, the GMOA
Executive Committee member said.<br />
<br /> Dr. Jayantha Navaratne,
contacted for comment, said that President Rajapaksa had instructed him
to cancel the gazette notification issued on August 22, 2013. He had
referred the amended draft to the Legal Draftsman. It would take some
time because the Ministry had to examine it in relation to other fields
such as engineering and architecture. As soon as he got the Draft from
the Legal Draftsman he would issue a special gazette notification, he
said.<br />
<br /> SLMC President Prof. Carlo Fonseka said that in
accordance with the provisions of the Sri Lanka Medical Ordinance, no
doctor could practise medicine without registration with the SLMC. If
any private medical school complied with the SLMC guidelines it would
have to be registered, he said.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-58125997793510535402014-11-03T07:44:00.001+05:302014-11-03T07:45:24.140+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Pie in the sky, say dons and undergrads<br />An attainable goal, claims ministry secy</h1>
<h1>
<img alt="" src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" height="70" width="368" /> </h1>
<h1 style="font-size: 12pt;">
<b> Increasing university intake to 100,000 by 2020: <i> Two new universities to be set up<br />
</i></b></h1>
<span class="article_date">November 2, 2014, 9:21 pm</span>
<br />
<br />
by Dasun Edirisinghe<br />
<br />
University teachers,
undergraduates and the Opposition claim that President Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s recent budget proposal to increase the annual university
intake to 100,000 by 2020 is not feasible given the woefully inadequate
facilities at the national universities.<br />
<br />
Executive
Committee member of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations
(FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said that it was not possible to
achieve the target within six years without compromising the quality of
the university education.<br />
<br />
The government had opened some
faculties such as Engineering and Medicine but there was much to be
desired as regards the quality of education they imparted, Dr.
Dewasiri said, claiming that the standards of some technical colleges
were much higher than the newly established engineering faculties.<br />
<br />
At present, 25,000 students admitted to the national universities annually.<br />
<br />
Dr.
Dewasiri said that there was a shortage of lecturers in several
universities including the Colombo University, but the government did
not take action to recruit qualified teachers to fill the existing
vacancies. The universities were also expiring infrastructural
problems, he pointed out. "The government keeps telling us that a
programme is underway to raise the standards of our universities so
that they will be among the best in the region, but how can it achieve
this lofty goal without improving the quality of university education?"<br />
<br />
The
senior don accused the government of being manically focused on mega
development projects at the expense of the higher education sector.<br />
<br />
Convener
of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Najith Indika said
that government cut down on funds allocation for universities every
year but it was now planning to increase the university intake by
75,000 in six years.<br />
<br />
He said that the government promoted private universities without increasing facilities for state universities.<br />
<br />
"We
need to know President Rajapaksa’s vision to increase the intake in
2020 by enrolling students at both state and private universities,"
Indika said.<br />
<br />
UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that a
government which could not even maintain the existing facilities at
universities had set an unattainable goal for itself for political
reasons.<br />
<br />
He said that the government found it difficult to
enroll at least two batches simultaneously. He dismissed the government
plan to increase the annual university intake to 100,000 in six years
as pie in the sky. "The government is trying to take the people for a
right royal ride once again, but they are wiser unlike in the past as
could be seen from the lesson they taught it in Badulla at the last PC
polls."<br />
<br />
Kariyawasam said that capital expenditure for
universities had been reduced by 60% besides the 50% decrease thereof
during the last few years.<br />
<br />
When contacted for comment,
Secretary of the Higher Education Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne
said that it was possible to increase the university intake to the
level set by the President and that goal would certainly be achieved by
2020.<br />
<br />
He said that plans were already underway to set up
more faculties at several universities and to establish two new
universities. He said the government was capable of achieving the goal
in spite of what its detractors said.<br />
<br />
An MoU on a new
university called China-Sri Lanka Friendship University had been signed
during the recent visit of Chinese President in Sri Lanka and a
proposal had been prepared for a Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship University,
too, Dr. Nawaratne said.<br />
<br />
He said that government had
planned to achieve the target not only with the 17 state universities
but also with the semi-government universities such as SLIIT, CINEC,
NSBM and nine degree awarding institutions.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-16158896022022496312014-11-02T09:37:00.000+05:302014-11-02T09:37:52.912+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
No hostel facilities will be given to second and third year undergrads — SB</h1>
<h1>
<img alt="" src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/04_04%20sunday/sunday-island.jpg" height="70" width="368" /><br />
</h1>
<h1 style="font-size: 12pt;">
<b> Says no such precedent</b></h1>
<span class="article_date">November 1, 2014, 6:52 pm</span>
<br />
<br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1133616936sb.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
by Saman Indrajith<br />
<br />
Higher Education Minister S. B.
Dissanayake yesterday said that no hostel facilities would be provided
to second and third year undergraduates in universities.<br />
<br />
"The
second and third year undergraduates were never provided with hostels
in the past, they are not given hostels today and would not be given
the facility in the future. We provide hostel facilities only to first
and last year undergraduates," he said.<br />
<br />
Responding to a
question raised by UNP Ratnapura District MP Dunesh Gankanda, the
minister said there were 94,494 undergraduates in the universities
including the Open University, of them 36,121 had been provided with
hostel facilities. Except for the students enrolled in the Open
University only around 5,000 undergraduates remain without hostel
facilities, the minister said.<br />
<br />
He said that 30 new hostels
have been built to accommodate 12,000 undergraduates. Thirty more new
hostels too would be constructed soon.<br />
<br />
MP Gankanda: The
Mahinda Chinthana manifesto promises hostel facilities to each and
every undergraduate. Why won’t the government provide hostel facilities
to the second and third year undergraduates?<br />
<br />
Minister
Dissanayake: No hostel facilities had been given to the second and
third year students of universities. Not in the past, not in the
present not in the future. It is our intention to introduce university
village system for the second and third year undergraduates, who mostly
live in nearby houses on rent. We plan to help the owners of those
houses to increase the number of rooms in their houses.<br />
<br />
MP
Gankanda: After beating Sabaragamuwa undergraduates recently you went
on record saying that you knew how to treat them if there was no
election coming up. If your government goons had smashed the heads of
undergraduates and set their makeshift satyagraha stages on fire with an
election around the corner we cannot even imagine how would you treat
them not non-election time. Could you explain?<br />
<br />
Minister Dissanayake: "I can very well, but it is not relevant to the question you asked."</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-62877875602112663032014-10-18T05:15:00.003+05:302014-10-18T05:15:26.353+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Twenty percent free private university placements under UNP</h1>
<span class="article_date">October 17, 2014, 9:08 pm</span>
,The Island<br /><br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1123048371kariya.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
By Zacki Jabbar<br />
<br /> A future UNP government will request
private universities to allocate 20 percent of slots annually for
deserving students who do not have the required financial resources,
says the party’s Deputy Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.<br />
<br /> In
India, private universities had adopted the practice of enrolling a
certain percentage of students free of charge and a future UNP
administration would do the same, MP Kariyawasama said.<br />
<br /> "We
have many good proposals in mind to develop our education system, but
to implement it, the people should act wisely and defeat the Rajapaksa
regime which had ruined the progress of our youth and install a UNP led
government", the MP emphasised.<br />
<br /> Private higher education
institutions would be regulated through an Act of Parliament by
establishing a body similar to the University Grants Commission,
but with wider powers, MP Kariyawasam said.<br />
<br /> Commenting on
the recent appointments made by the UNP including those given to
Sajith Premadasa and him, Kariyawasam said that some in the government
had raised various queries about those posts but they had been decided
on by the UNP’s decision making body the Working Committee (WC).<br />
<br /> "Outsiders
have no business to be questioning decisions taken by the WC. We
decide what is best for us. Our critics are worried that the UNP has
united under Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership. With the anti-government
vote increasing by the day, it wll only be a matter of time before we
are back in power," he said. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-23132938544795367472014-10-12T17:05:00.001+05:302014-10-12T17:05:34.604+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
The UGC and the Universities Today<img alt="" height="70" src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/04_04%20sunday/sunday-island.jpg" width="368" /> </h1>
<span class="article_date">May 21, 2011, 3:36 pm</span>
<br /><br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/258857218main.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
By Savitri Goonesekere<br />
<br /> <div style="text-align: justify;">
The academic communities were
present in large numbers at the recent funeral of the late Professor B.
A. Abeywickreme, Emeritus Professor in the faculty of Science,
University of Colombo, and former Vice Chancellor of the university. As
I entered the cemetery, an employee of the University of Colombo who
recognized me rushed up and offered me an academic gown to wear, like
the other ‘dons’ who were present. I thanked him and politely declined
the gown. I am one of those old fashioned academics who believe that
academic robes should be worn at ceremonial academic events. As I
followed the funeral procession, I reflected that the Vice Chancellor,
Staff and others dressed in their academic robes of office were perhaps
participating in a final ritual that would see the demise of values on
academic freedom and university autonomy that an older generation
believed were the essence of respected seats of higher learning. I was a
member of the UGC and a university academic and administrator, when
these values, handed down to us by our predecessors, still seemed
important. And yet today, Vice Chancellors, academics and university
trade unions are passively watching while core principles of university
autonomy in the present Universities Act 1978 are being violated by
the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Higher Education.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The
Universities Act has clearly indicated that university academics are
not government servants regulated by the State Establishments Code, and
norms that apply to the public service of the country. The University
Grants Commission is not a government department placed under the
Minister and the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education. The
powers of the Minister in relation to universities are defined by the
Act. The Commission is authorized to function as an independent
regulatory authority within the framework of the Act, which
incorporates the concept of university autonomy, and the recognizes the
distinct powers and responsibilities of University governing bodies
(Councils) and University Senates responsible for all academic matters.
These principles and the structure were recognized by the Supreme
Court as a dimension of the concept of academic autonomy in
universities enshrined in the Universities Act and international
standards, in the celebrated case of Udagama and Others v Minister of
Higher Education. Certain changes to the Universities Act including
amendments to the provisions in the Act regulating the appointments of
heads of departments of study were rejected by the Supreme Court as a
violation of this important concept. The case must be familiar to the
legal officer at the UGC, law teachers in the university system, Unions
and university administrators. Extracts are published in the
University of Colombo calendar of 2000. The UGC under the Chairmanship
of the late Professor S. Tillekeratna, engaged in a consultative
exercise to propose reforms to the Universities Act that would give
more academic autonomy to universities, restricting the UGC to a
standard setting and funding authority like in many other countries of
the Commonwealth. This was considered essential to enable universities
to become competitive institutions that could also generate and use
their own funds for research and development. A new Universities Act
drafted to reflect these perspectives was submitted by the National
Education Commission to the government in 2005. Some academics like the
current Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna were involved in
these consultations, and the preparation of the Act.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And
yet, recent events indicate that University academics are permitting
the UGC to regularly take decisions in violation of the Act. For
example:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(1) S. 73 of the Act provides for retirement of
teachers, indicating that a university teacher confirmed in the post
continues in office until he/she reaches the age of 65, or if this
event occurs in the course of the academic year, at the end of the
year. Since this is a statutory provision, the UGC or the Minister have
no power to change this except by an amendment to the Act. Yet a
cabinet decision, communicated by the UGC to a University Council has
been implemented, in violation of the Act, enabling a person who has
retired to continue as a Dean of a Faculty. S 33 and 49 of the Act
clarifies that the Dean is a fulltime officer of the University elected
from among the Heads of Departments, who must also be permanent
(tenured) members of staff. A professor who has retired may be employed
again on contract but not as a permanent member of staff. The Dean
receives certain payments and the Vice Chancellor as Chief Accounting
officer and the UGC will have to explain to Parliament and Auditors at
some time, how these payments are being made, and an appointment held
on a Cabinet decision that violates the law.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(2) Powers of
the UGC are specified by S 15 of the Universities Act which authorizes
the Commission to determine in consultation with the Councils and
Senates, the courses to be provided by Universities. We are told that
the Ministry has now decided that all first year students shall follow a
course in a military camp or facility. How did the UGC allow the
Minister to make this decision? Was this discussed by the UGC with the
Senates and Councils of Universities, as required by the Act? To permit
the UGC or Ministry to determine the content of courses without
discussion with university Senates violates the provisions of the Act
on the universities powers regarding teaching programmes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(3)
The University Grants Commission (not the Chairman) issues circulars
within the scope of provisions of the Act. Any changes in provisions to
the Act can only be made by Parliament (through amendments) to the Act.
This has been respected by all earlier governments. Yet on 3 May 2011
the UGC Chairman has issued a circular, apparently in his individual
capacity, purporting to change the provisions in S.51 of the Act, which
deals with the terms of appointment of a head of department of study.
Following usual practice, there is no reference to the meeting of the
Commission that adopted this circular. The circular strangely refers to
S.51 (3) and ignores its content, thus constituting an administrative
decision in violation of the Act.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Universities of Sri
Lanka like respectable academic institutions all over the world have
systems of governance regulated by laws. There was a time in the not so
distant past when Chairmen of UGC, Vice Chancellors and senior
administrators, Councils and Senates understood that they had
responsibilities to ensure transparent accountable governance in these
institutions according to powers given to Councils and Senates by the
Act. Members of these bodies now seem to have become active or passive
parties to undermining the very fabric of universities as academic
institutions of the nation. Some Vice Chancellors as Chief executives
seem to pursue their personal agendas and political affiliations, with
no questions asked by the university bodies like Faculty Boards,
Senates and Councils. The concept of "following orders" seems to have
replaced the concept of academic voice and participation in decision
making on matters that concern universities.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the last
salary revision took place decades ago, the academic community,
consisting of University Trade Unions, the UGC and Vice Chancellors
were in close contact, working together in negotiating with the
government to advocate for a just and fair salary structure. I recall
how Prof. Arjuna Aluvihare, Chairman UGC at the time, Professor
Dayantha Wijesekere, VC of the Open University and senior Professors
who were union leaders were actively engaged together in negotiating
with government to adopt a new salary structure. Today we witness the
unsavoury spectacle of the Chairman UGC and some Vice Chancellors on a
collision course with University Unions as witnessed in the UGC
Circular of 3 May 2011. Academics refer to the unprecedented manner in
which one Vice Chancellor addressed a union before a key decision was
made on the proposed industrial action, reportedly even demanding that
staff should not go on strike. Recent contributions by academics in the
press indicate how academics are abused or treated as conspirators
against the government when they seek to exercise the trade union
rights that they have legitimately exercised for decades. In the past,
Vice Chancellors dialogued with union leaders and tried to negotiate a
settlement and prevent a strike. They did not use their official status
to interfere with a union’s right to freedom of association and
industrial action.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Should Vice Chancellors, Senates and
Councils unquestioningly accept these violations of the Act and the
erosion of their powers, and follow what are in effect "orders" that
violate the law under which universities have been established? Three
Universities have either a Faculty or Departments of Law. Why are these
teachers so silent when these violations are taking place? Some travel
overseas, write and present erudite papers on human rights. But do
they discuss these issues of rights and governance with students or
raise them in appropriate fora such as Faculty and Senate meetings?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The
current trade union action for salary increases is based on a long
standing need to rectify anomalies, in a context where other public
institutions like the Central Bank and the judiciary have witnessed
salary reviews. The newly appointed UGC has two members who were
respected Vice Chancellors and administrators in the university system.
Hopefully they will give new leadership and understanding on the role
and responsibility of the UGC under the Universities Act, and help to
resolve the current salaries dispute.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However academics too
will gain more public support for their cause if they fulfill their
responsibilities and act collectively to safeguard the core values on
which our academic institutions have been built over many decades of
higher education in this country. Vice Chancellors, Deans, Chairmen of
UGCs and University Faculties and Senates, with the full gamut of
professors and academic staff must give the leadership that these
institutions desperately need to sustain transparent accountable and
democratic governance in universities. Caliban, writing of the "Disease
of Sycophancy" in the Island of 27 April 2011, refers to the "putrid
example" of servility in the University community. Symptomatic of this
sycophancy, as he describes it, is "holding on to positions that are
not their rightful due, stooging the benefactors, acquiescing and
covering up their misdeeds or inadequacies, and basically betraying the
sanctity of the office they hold." When the Sri Lankan University
system crumbles beyond repair, like many other public institutions in
this country, the public will come to realize that, as Martin Luther
King once said, this was not just because of a few sycophants, "but the
appalling silence of the majority."</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-82231793407734393092014-10-11T04:32:00.004+05:302014-10-11T04:32:56.084+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
S. B. and universities<img alt="" src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" /> </h1>
<span class="article_date">October 10, 2014, 12:00 pm</span>
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<br />One wonders whether Minister S. B. Disanayake is fit to
hold that exalted position. The recent incidents at the Sabaragamuwa
University and his reaction prove that he lacks the maturity,
forbearance and sober contemplation, which are hallmarks of such a
responsible position.<br />
<br /> No one would deny that the
universities of the country have become hotbeds of intolerance,
frustration and dissension. These developments are the cumulative
result of the radicalization of youth over the years. The general
neglect of university education by successive governments which have not
provided sufficient funds to meet the needs of the universities such
as reasonable remuneration for the academic and non-academic staff and
outdated courses of study have also contributed to this situation.<br />
<br /> Anyone
who holds the higher education portfolio should study these problems,
consult the parties involved, cultivate mutual understanding and take
steps to broaden the resource base. For this approach to bear fruit, the
person, who venture into this chaotic maelstrom should possess, far
seeing sagacity, immense patience, tolerance and most of all, he or she
should possess winning ways to instill respect, and acceptance in the
minds of the parties concerned.<br />
<br /> These are the very qualities S. B. sadly lacks. He has been tilting at windmills.<br />
<br /> Here
I must hasten to add that I do not condone at all the vise-like grip
the JVP-controlled Student Unions and their break away fraction have on
the universities.<br />
<br /> The minister should realize that there
are other stakeholders in the system, whose confidence he should win.
He also should realise that there are vexed problems which he should
solve because these are exploited by the student unions. But, instead
of finding solutions, he turns abusive at the drop of a hat and calls
his critics names.<br />
<br /> Sometime back when S. B. was the National
organiser of the UNP he advocated a ‘little bit of authoritarianism’
in any field to achieve success. Is S. B. doling out his own medicine
in the restricted space of his ‘little empire’?<br />
<br /> Ariyawansa Ranaweera<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-17447892592570710862014-10-09T13:22:00.001+05:302014-10-09T13:22:09.765+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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SB’s puppets wreak havoc on Colombo campus – dons</div>
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*Teachers refrain from work in protest,</div>
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*Minister’s office denies allegation</div>
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<span class="article_date" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">October 8, 2014, 9:59 pm</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><img src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" /><br />
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by Dasun Edirisinghe</div>
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Lecturers of the Colombo University Arts Faculty will refrain from teaching from today in protest against the unruly behaviour of a section of undergraduates and Faculty Students Union.</div>
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University sources said that the Faculty Board including all department heads would meet today to discuss their conditions to resume work.</div>
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Dean of the Colombo Arts Faculty, Prof. Athula Ranasinghe said that the teachers had decided to put an end to the unruly behaviour of students, who had no respect for the academic staff.</div>
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"We will discuss with students today after the meeting and will resume teaching if they agree to abide by the university rules and regulations," he said.</div>
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A senior lecturer of the Arts Faculty told The Island, on condition of anonymity, that a section of students affiliated to the SLFP had plunged the faculty into chaos by misbehaving and subjecting first year students to cruelty in the name of ragging.</div>
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In a recent incident two female students had been assaulted for associating with first year students disregarding warnings issued by the so-called student leaders, he said.</div>
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The senior academic said that a section of the students’ union wanted to prevent senior students from moving with first years and they wanted to propagate only their political ideology.</div>
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Those unruly students had a callous disregard for university regulations and no respect for lecturers because Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake rose in their defence when action was taken against them, the senior don said, adding that the minister had used those unruly elements to neutralise the JVP at the university. He called the troublemakers SB’s puppets.</div>
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President of the Arts Faculty Students Union, Wasantha Gunasundara denied any links to a political party. "The university administration is levelling baseless allegations against us and currently new entrants are on vacation. There was an incident where two seniors came to blows and the administration is trying to make it out to be the result of ragging."</div>
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Minister S. B. Dissanayake’s Media Secretary, Gayan Peris said that the ministry did not sponsor any student union contrary to claims by teachers to that effect.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-74221938588503647822014-10-06T07:55:00.002+05:302014-10-06T07:55:56.242+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
SB wins the day; university closed</h1>
<h1 style="font-size: 12pt;">
<b> Sabaragamuwa Mayhem:</b></h1>
<a href="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.island.lk/userfiles/image/danweem/island.gif" /></a><span class="article_date">October 5, 2014, 10:24 pm</span>
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By Chaminda Silva and N.H. Piyasena,<br />Balangoda corr<br />
<br /> Sabaragamuwa
University was shut down until further notice yesterday when
pandemonium reigned with students staging an aggressive protest against
a visit by Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake and his deputy
Nandimithra Ekanayake to the varsity.<br />
<br /> Police fired tear
gas and used water cannon to disperse the protesting students who had
hurriedly put up barricades on the road near the Pambahina Junction to
block the ministerial motorcade.<br />
<br /> The two ministers managed
to visit the university and lay a foundation stone for a new hostel and
to declare open the newly constructed Walawe Hostel for female
undergraduates.<br />
<br /> The protest held up traffic along the Badulla-Colombo main road.<br />
<br /> Police
said that they had been compelled to use water cannon to disperse the
protesting students and no one had been injured. The police denied the
accusation by undergraduates that they had used tear gas.<br />
<br /> Convener
of the Sabaragamuwa University Undergraduates’ Collective, Rasindu
Jayasinghe said around Rs. 400 million had been spent on the newly
constructed hostel, but it had not been built properly.<br />
<br /> It
posed a danger to students. And there was a plan to lay a foundation
stone for a hostel for male students next to an army camp. he added,
alleging that the whole project smacked of a sinister plan.<br />
<br /> Addressing
the opening ceremony, Minister Dissanayake said there were a handful
of students who staged protests. The new building had been built by
engineers who had passed out of Sri Lankan universities and they knew
what they were doing. "I hear that some politically motivated students
claim that part of Rs 400 million allocated for this building has been
siphoned off. Then they accused us of not fixing roof gutters. We did
not permit fixing roof gutters to avoid the breeding of dengue
mosquitoes. There is a group of organised students who sent others to
roads with tills to collect money. They do not let students speak
English because they do not want the youth to come up in life so that
they could prey on them. These troublemakers are thriving on youth
unrest and there is no other way they could survive in mainstream
politics. We won’t give in to them. They can protest and block roads
but we will not stop developing the university system and improving the
students’ lot."<br />
<br /> The university administration later announced that the university had been closed indefinitely.<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-76871215562492286752014-09-19T12:15:00.002+05:302014-09-19T12:15:21.645+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Rajani and the Tamil National Struggle</span></h1>
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<span class="article_date" style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">September 18, 2014, 7:30 pm</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> </span><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1105125114fea8.jpg" style="float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; padding: 10px;" /><br />
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<span style="color: #993300; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dr Rajani Thiranagama</span><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />By Rajan Hoole</div>
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Dr. Rajani Thiranagama was killed 25 years ago on 21st September 1989</div>
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Every death, as Rajani said, is a monumental tragedy that needs to be accounted for and the moment we lose that human empathy and become apathetic or indifferent, we are, as a people, doomed. While death and loss was not confined to one community, we Tamils believed in the liberation struggle, lost a great deal, sheltered behind apathy while many of our best were killed as traitors and children of the vulnerable sections dragooned off to fight a doomed war. We are now the living dead, corrupt and subservient, unable to run the institutions we have for the public good, appeasing the new order by pretending that the liberation struggle was something we had no part in, and those who died for it as completely alien to us. With her keen understanding of society and the dangerous shallowness of narrow elite nationalism, Rajani foresaw this betrayal as her writings in the Broken Palmyrah show. She saw it was the poor and downtrodden who were at the receiving end. Her ears and heart were open to all; she pleaded that to avert our common dismal fate, our politics should become more open, and we should reach out to the wider world as a people deserving sympathy.</div>
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While being an internationalist from her university days, Rajani joined the LTTE as a reaction to the hypocrisy of Tamil nationalist politics, upon seeing, first as a doctor, the sacrificial earnestness of some LTTE cadres. She left in disgust upon being exposed to the trauma of young persons, whose sacrifice was being cynically betrayed. As with Tamil nationalist parliamentary politics, she saw that the LTTE was a prisoner of its rhetoric of Tamil valour and its heroic destiny and could only impose greater sacrifices on an unwilling people and severe repression against those who questioned it, while being drawn into new and malign forms of dependence. Nationalism when admired for its military feats has been a source of dangerous delusions.</div>
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The stunning victory of the Japanese against the Russian Navy, then a major European Imperial Power, in the Tsushima Strait in 1905, charged up nationalist movements from China and Vietnam to India, Turkey and the Islamic world with fresh fervour for throwing off European Imperial dominance and asseting national independence. But they lost sight of the fact that Nationalism was already an outmoded and gangrenous sore. Japan’s was not an agenda for the liberation of Asia, agenda for posession, particularly Manchuria and Korea. Its victory was not made in Japan but in current imperial rivalies, and the Japanese Navy was armed largely by Britain. Japan’s hubris eventually led to the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.</div>
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We failed to appreciate that nationalism was ultimately predatory in character. Once the beast of nationalism is awakened, its depredations as we have seen may be more insidious and incurable when exercised by groups within the whimsical boundaries of modern states. The predatory spirit of nationalism inspired by Japan’s victory, marred the independence of nations from colonial rule. Take education.</div>
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After 65 years of independence, why do we still hold degrees and doctorates from western nations in high regard and treat ours with increasing skepticism? Did we not have the potential for our universities to equal Oxford and Cambridge? The failure has much to do with our partisanship and violence that are an aspect of nationalism, which made impunity tolerable when the victim was not in our group. For us, the disenfranchisement of Plantation Labour of recent Indian origin in 1948 using tenuous arguments founded on Legal Positivism, then the vogue in English Law, brought us to Sinhalese majoritarianism and frequently, total eclipse of the rule of law. In India it begun with the trauma of Partition that owed to the refusal of Hindu Nationalists to treat the Muslims as equals. In both instances the predatory aspect of nationalism stunted us and our institutions. As an internationalist and a keen participant in solidarity movements across national boundaries, and an early supporter of the African National Congress, Rajani understood this and in the development of her thinking distinguished between narrow nationalism and the kind of nationalism dictated by the defence of a community and struggled to maintain that distinction against the noxious rhetorical legacy of a bankrupt parliamentary nationalism, which had legitimised the murder of so-called traitors. Some left militant groups too tried and failed.</div>
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As one whose perceptions were moulded by state-complicity in communal violence, Rajani accepted the Tamil Nation as forced upon us by events, but whose materialisation was conditional upon the Tamils’ success in nation-building, to include Muslims and Hill-Country Tamils in a concrete, rather than superficial, working relationship with mechanisms to address mutual grievances. It meant building people’s institutions to mitigate harmful dependencies, both locally and internationally. Part of her advocacy was her leading role in forging in Jaffna University, the Staff, Students and Employees Consultative Committee, chaired by the Vice Chancellor, where members talked as equals to resolve problems. It challenged the LTTE’s attempt to control the University, and foundered once Rajani was assassinated.</div>
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Rajani’s worst fears of the narrow Tamil nationalism forged by the elite in response to Sinhalese supremacism, found its searing denouement in the bloodied sands of Mattalan and Mullivaykkal in 2009, and the continuing paralysis of Tamil society. What is Rajani’s message to this society today? Maria Remarque, a young German soldier who fought in the ruinous First World War, in his masterpiece ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, left us a powerful critique of his country’s nationalist excess and the young’s total disillusionment with the older generation and the service of the State they preached: "[they were] convinced that they were acting for the best, in the way that was most comfortable for themselves…[to us] that was the very root of their moral bankruptcy…we saw there was nothing left of their world. Suddenly we found ourselves horribly alone."</div>
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We see it today in the intellectual barrenness that characterises her University, and the near absence of discussion and engagement between the academic staff and the students. The generation responsible for this plight hides its bankruptcy by not allowing the young to think. They are being exhorted to more tradition and more religion and are rendering our political future hopeless by dismantling secularism – the only basis for a united Tamil Nation – that even the militant movements paid lip-service to. The Tamils’ internal destructivess, combined with the Sinhalese establishment’s quest for complete victory over truth about the recent war in particular, and history in general, renders the situation more volatile.</div>
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Could one pronounce judgment on the character of the recently ended war without a fair estimate of the casualties? Could one make such an estimate after throwing away primary data about the number of civilians in the war zone given by the leading government official in charge of those civilians, and not gainsaid by the LLRC, as simply cooked up? Was shelling civilians on the run all the way from Sampoor to Batticaloa in August 2006, then going back on the promise of allowing civilians to return, and turning over Sampoor to a crony capitalist as a zone for heavy industry, a benign and professional military operation, or primarily an ideological operation?</div>
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Particular versions imposed with state-backing leads to anger among the victims silenced by pervasive fear, and is reflected in the fertility of sentiments that gave birth to the LTTE in Tamil politics. The resulting Dialogue of the Deaf augurs ill for a united Lanka.</div>
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How do we respond? In writing the Broken Palmyrah in late 1987 and early 1988, the authors had different perspectives. One was the simple belief that the truth is greater than ourselves, and the truth in itself has curative power. Rajani and Sritharan went much further and wanted to make it a people’s narrative through which the people hold their oppressors of every hue to account and seek ways to build their collective strength. The book could not have been what it is without their constant engagement with victims left to their misery in villages and hovels.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-3823484339523028092014-08-02T06:35:00.002+05:302014-08-02T06:35:45.630+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Govt. has reduced promised pay hike from 25% to 20% – FUTA</h1>
<span class="article_date">August 1, 2014, 11:14 pm</span>
, the island<br /><br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1077986462nirmal.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
By Dasun Edirisinghe<br />
<br /> Higher Education Minister S. B.
Dissanayake says that the government was boasting that the government
had increased the salaries of university teachers by 20%, but it was
only one of the promises on the basis of which the Federation of
University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) had suspended its 100-day
strike in 2012, former FUTA chief and executive committee member Dr.
Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said yesterday.<br />
<br /> Dr. Dewasiri said
that the government had promised a 25% salary increment,but after
one-and-a-half years it had granted only 20%.<br />
<br /> The increment
was granted with effect from last month and the government had reneged
on its promise to pay arrears, Dr. Dewasiri said.<br />
<br /> The FUTA,
he said, wanted the 35% research allowance added to the basic salary
and the conditions stipulated to obtain it should be relaxed as all
university teachers could not do a research every year as they were too
busy with teaching activities or attending to administrative duties,
the FUTA executive member said.<br />
<br /> Higher Education Minister
S. B. Dissanayake said that they would not pay the research allowance
to those who would not engage in research activities. "We introduced
the research grant to encourage university dons to engage in research
as it is a need of the hour to improve our universities," he said.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-59458361726330843272014-08-01T21:56:00.002+05:302014-08-01T21:56:14.667+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Jaffna University science teachers complain of foul play in recruitment</h1>
<h1 style="font-size: 12pt;">
<b> UGC Chairperson promises probe</b></h1>
<span class="article_date">July 31, 2014, 10:03 pm</span>, the island<br /><br />
By Dasun Edirisinghe<br />
<br /> The Jaffna University Science
Teachers’ Association (JUSTA) yesterday claimed that recruitment
procedures in the university were abused through political interference
by a member party of the ruling UPFA coalition.<br />
<br /> According
to a report prepared by the JUSTA’s Subcommittee for Academic
Integrity––summary of the report appears on page seven in today’s
edition of this newspaper––the political party concerned has been given
monopoly over the appointment of external council members though by
statute the responsibility lies with the UGC.<br />
<br /> The political
party kept a tight control over them by summoning them for pre-council
gathering before each monthly council meeting, the report says.<br />
<br /> When
probationary or assistant lecturers are recruited to all faculties,
the interview board drops the qualified persons with highest GPA (Grade
Point Average) and other academic qualifications and experience,
including post graduate and selected persons with low qualification, but
with political backing, the JUSTA says.<br />
<br /> According to the
report, the March 2009 list of selections for Computer Applications
Assistants (CAA) drawn from a mainly Eelam People’s Democratic Party
(EPDP) list forwarded through the Ministry of Higher Education was
prefaced with the Scheme of Recruitment which claimed candidates were
sought by open advertisement.<br />
<br /> Ministry of Higher Education
sent a list of candidates for the post of labourer and they were told
to obtain their qualifications and complete their applications. On 8th
July, the Ministry telephoned the University to withdraw 30 names from
the list already given and to include 23 names from a fresh list, the
report says.<br />
<br /> "We recommend that all cases of irregularities
that have come to light be reviewed swiftly and highly qualified
applicants that were excluded at interviews be called," the
subcommittee has said.<br />
<br /> The JUSTA also says that independent
persons of repute with an appreciation of university values should be
appointed to the Council as external members, and student
representatives and academic staff should be allowed to review their
qualifications. Internal members should be advised to resign their
positions and seek a fresh mandate from their constituencies in the
Faculties.<br />
<br /> Chairperson of the University Grants Commission
(UGC) Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, contacted for comment, said that
the UGC was not aware of such a report.<br />
<br /> She said that some
time back the UGC had investigated the appointment of Jaffna University
Vice Chancellor following a complaint that it had been made under
political influence, but it had been proved that the appointment was
not politically motivated.<br />
<br /> The JUSTA should have submitted
the report to the UGC first as it was the management authority of
university academics, Prof. Hirimburegama said.<br />
<br /> "If it is submitted to the UGC, I’ll definitely have a very impartial inquiry into their charges," she said. <br />
<br /> Secretary
to the Ministry of Higher Education Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said
the scheme of recruitment of non-academic staff, whereby the lists were
vetted by the area Minister had been in practice even before Minister
S.B. Dissanayake took over the Higher Education portfolio.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8004671354578879805.post-79326822292999752172014-08-01T08:39:00.002+05:302014-08-01T08:39:57.184+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1>
Lanka hosts regional meeting on recognition of qualifications in higher education</h1>
<span class="article_date">July 31, 2014, 9:26 pm</span>,the island<br /><br />
<img alt="article_image" src="http://www.island.lk/modules/modPublication/article_title_images/1077239079DI-P03-01-08-%28Re%29-Sab--FINAL-3.jpg" style="float: left;" /><br />
by Dasun Edirisinghe<br />
<br /> The 13th Session of the
Regional Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher
Education in Asia and the Pacific in conjunction with the Regional
Workshop on Quality Assurance in Higher Education will be held in Sri
Lanka for the first time on August 04 and 05, the Higher Education
Minister says.<br />
<br /> Addressing a media conference at UGC
auditorium, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday that 35 countries
would participate in the workshop which would cost Rs. 8 million.<br />
<br /> "We
are happy to host the workshop as it will enable us to exchange our
students and teachers with global universities, while getting
recognition for local qualifications and quality assurance," Minister
Dissanayake said, adding that it would help Sri Lankan universities with
securing higher global rankings.<br />
<br /> Secretary of the Higher
Education Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne said that at present
4,000 foreign students from West Asia, China, Japan, India and the
Maldives were studying in the state and private universities here.<br />
<br /> Dr. Nawaratne said that when Minister Dissanayake took office there had been only 300 foreign students in Sri Lanka.<br />
<br /> UGC
Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama and Additional Secretary of
the Ministry Piyasena Ranepura also attended the media conference.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0