Undergrads run amok, take Rajarata VC hostage

November 28, 2011, 9:54 pm , The Island

by Dasun Edirisinghe

Vice Chancellor Prof. K. A. Nandasena, Registrar A. G. Karunaratne and Medical Faculty Dean Prof. Malani Udupihilla of the Rajarata University were held hostage for nearly two hours yesterday by medical undergraduates who demanded a Professorial Unit in the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for the clinical training of the final year medical students.

President of the Rajarata Medical Faculty Students’ Union Chaminda Pushpakumara told The Island that they had been compelled to take tough action as the VC and Dean had persistently refused a discussion.

"Final year students have been waiting for six months to complete their clinical training," he said adding that their counterparts elsewhere had already passed out and were working as demonstrators.

Pushpakumara said the university administration had promised to set up a professorial unit by Nov. 15, but that promise had not been honoured.

Vice Chancellor Prof. K. A. Nandasena was not available for comments.

 

GMOA claims govt. planning take over of SLMC as state enterprise

November 28, 2011, 10:06 pm , The Island.

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday warned the government not to take over Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) as a state enterprise and not to appoint an unqualified person as the President of the Medical Council as its current President Prof. Lalitha Mendis had tendered her resignation to the Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

Minister Sirisena had accepted the resignation. He would have a discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa today or tomorrow and would let the GMOA know the response, the Association said..

The powerful doctors’ union also accused the government of not solving serious problems affecting the Health Sector. It wanted Prof.Lalitha Mendis to remain as the President of the SLMC until those problems were solved.

In case the government appointed an unqualified person with political influence as the President of the SLMC, the GMOA would not hesitate to take stronger trade union action, its General Secretary Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa told a media conference held at GMOA head office..

Dr.Epitakaduwa said that the GMOA knew from a reliable source that an influential henchman of a high ranking politician would be appointed to fill the vacancy created by Prof. Lalitha Mendis’ resignation. At the same time the medical profession had been going from bad to worse. Problems such as serious irregularities at Malabe PMC, bogus medical certificates presented by 70 Assistant Medical Practitioners, provision of unqualified Indian doctors to practice here were outstanding, he claimed..

The Gen. Secretary said that the government, under the recommendation of a senior cabinet minister, was in the process of legislating an Act to take over the SLMC as a government-owned enterprise. The government was also planning to appoint a person to the SLMC with political background. The SLMC was an independent organization which had been maintaining a high standard of medical ethics and management. in accordance with the Sri Lanka Medical Ordinance. It was a flagrant violation to take over SLMC administration under the purview of the government.

GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr.Upul Gunasakera said that in terms of seniority and qualifications, Prof. Lalitha Mendis had all the credentials to be the President of the SLMC. But in case a political henchman was appointed, the person would wreak havoc in the medical profession. The GMOA was determined to launch a stronger protest against the government move if it went ahead and appointed a novice to the post..

When contacted Prof. Lalitha Mendis said that several medical organizations such as SLMC, Sri Lanka College of Surgeons, Post-Graduate Institute of Medicine and the GMOA were on the war path against the government’s move to take over the SLMC and appoint a politically influential person as its president. She would not mind remaining as the President of the SLMC until some of the problems mentioned were resolved.

University teachers join fight against private universities

November 27, 2011, 9:32 pm , The Island.

by Dasun Edirisinghe

University teachers have joined the on-going campaign against establishing private universities in the country, claiming that they do not want education to be turned into a commodity.

President of the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said that establishing or facilitating private universities here was not a task for the government.

"The government’s task is to develop and expand the public university system," he said.

Dr. Devasiri said that at present, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake, who was paid by public funds was working towards setting up private universities.

The senior academic said that today the government had forgotten its duty to improve, expand and allocate more funds to the existing public university system.

"The Higher Education Minister has taken upon himself the task of countering criticism of private universities," Dr. Devasiri alleged.

Similarly, he said, the Health Ministry’s duty was not to facilitate the establishment of private hospitals in the country and its first priority would be to develop the government’s health sector.

Dr. Devasiri said that most of the private higher educational institutions with awarding status were abusing the word ‘university’.

"Anyone can start a higher educational institution today and call it a university," he said adding that their goal was making profits and not the provision of quality education.

FUTA Secretary Dr. Terrance Madujith said that higher education minister promoted private universities saying that establishing branches of foreign universities was to Sri Lanka’s benefit, but the fact was they were not recognised world universities.

"If the universities like Harvard, Cambridge or Oxford set up their branches here, it would be to our advantage," he said, "but no such recognised world university has set up a branch here."

University Governance and Traditions

November 26, 2011, 5:44 pm , Sunday Island.

It is very heartening to note the continuation of "good traditions" established at the University of Moratuwa and the "good governance" as highly commended by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) of the Parliament.

As to the traditions, the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof Malik Ranasinghe who has successfully completed the maximum consecutive two terms of Office (six years) as specified in the Universities Act No 16 of 1978 (as amended), has arranged along with the Registrar of the University, the "Induction Ceremony" of the new Vice Chancellor the day after he completes the period of Office ( ie Nov 25) , even though the name of the new Vice Chancellor who would be appointed by H.E. President , from among the panel of three names submitted by the University Council is still to be announced. This indicates the University’s strict compliance to the provisions in the said Act.

The Chairman of the COPE Hon. Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera , has often remarked on the good governance of the University , Academically, Financially and Administratively.

Such standards maintained and continuously further developed, produce well moulded graduates much needed for the local and international markets. Hence, the University itself is well "Ranked" both locally and regionally. Furthermore, the joint efforts by staff and students towards National development are also credit worthy.

While the outgoing Vice Chancellor Prof Malik Ranasinghe has to be commended for the excellent work done during the period of Office and even before, the incoming Vice Chancellor , whoever it may be should be wished the very best and hope he would raise the image of the University of Moratuwa to greater heights and recognition worldwide, while maintaining the established traditions and good governance.

Emeritus Professor Dayantha Wijeyesekera

Chancellor, University of Vocational Technology,

Chairman Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission

Former Vice Chancellor, Open University and University of Moratuwa.

We have been cheated and fooled: Dons

 Dailymirror
The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) said yesterday it would write to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake on the government’s failure to fulfill its promises by increasing teachers’ salaries and investments in higher education through the 2012 budget.

“We have been cheated and fooled. It is irresponsible for the government to treat the academic community in this way,” FUTA President Nirmal Dewasiri said. He said FUTA would take trade union action and hold discussions with all the universities in the country on the next step.

Dr. Dewasiri said according to the understanding reached between the government and FUTA, the basic salary of university academics was to be increased by 20 per cent from January 1, 2012.

The government also agreed to extend the housing loan scheme introduced for public servants to university academics as well and to increase the rates for various services provided by university academics.

“FUTA also requested amendments to be made to the University Act -- to do away with the various poorly thought out training programmes for university students being carried out without the approval of the faculty boards and senate boards, spending the resources allocated for higher education for training programmes outside the university, forcing universities to hire security services from two extremely expensive security firms, in which high ranking government officials have vested interests,” Dr. Dewasiri said

FUTA called off its trade union action which began in May this year after President Rajapaksa assured that their requests would be fulfilled. “At the time the government said it would implement the proposals submitted by FUTA in stages during 2012 and 2013,” he said.

“We are displeased with the government. Assurances it gave us have turned out to be false. It does not talk about reducing the number of ministers or their salaries and cars provided to them or the massive expenditure that was to be spent on the 2018 Commonwealth games. It does not consider the funding for education. This is a far bigger problem than just receiving an increase in salaries. The education sector has a direct impact on the economic performance of the country,” Dr. Devasiri said.

FUTA Vice President Ananda Jayawickrama said though it was believed that some 2.9 per cent was spent on education, last year’s statistics showed that investment in education had been in the region of 1.5 per cent which is less than adequate for the education system to function.

“The government says Sri Lanka’s economy is knowledge-based and it will move the country forward but unfortunately we do not see this happening,” Dr. Jayawickrama said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

FUTA to notify SB on resumption of trade union action next week

November 24, 2011, 10:16 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

University teachers, who earlier suspended their trade union action on the promise given by the government, yesterday decided to resume it as 2012 budget failed to fulfill the pledge.

The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) would inform its decision to the Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake next week.

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri told a media conference that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had broken the promise he gave them at a Temple Trees meeting in July.

"When we took the warpath to win our dues, President Rajapaksa promised to provide a solution through the 2012 budget," he said.

Dr. Devasiri said that when they submitted an interim proposal to solve the problem, president Rajapaksa explained that it was difficult to allocate funds to solve the problem without a budget and the 2012 budget would solve the problem.

But, the budget totally neglected the issue and university teachers felt cheated by the President, he said.

University teachers resorted to trade union action to pressure the government to rectify their salary anomalies, with a token strike on March 15, 2011. They resigned from university administrative duties on May 09 to further press their case. However, they suspended the trade union action in July on the government’s promise to rectify matter.

Dr. Devasiri said that their executive committee that met yesterday at the Open University of Sri Lanka unanimously decided to resume the suspended trade union action.

"However, we would not rush to resume trade union action as it would disturb academic activities," he said.

The senior academic said that they would first make the general public as well as their sister unions countrywide aware on the issue during December.

FUTA unhappy over Budget

 Dailymirror
University academics, who are unhappy over the government’s failure to honour the pledge to increase their salaries to a mutually agreed level in the 2012 Budget are once again mulling over the idea of resorting to trade union action to win their demands.

The Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) President Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said today FUTA members were thoroughly disappointed over the government’s failure to honour the July 21 agreement.

Dr. Devasiri said university academics were entitled to a 20 per cent basic pay rise in the Budget as agreed between the FUTA and the government. But only a five per cent salary increase has been mentioned in the budget. But it is not clear as to whether the increase is on the basic salary or the consolidated salary.

He said the July 2010 agreement states that the salaries of university academic staff should be raised in four stages –bringing the consolidated salary of a senior professor to Rs.168,000 a month.

Dr. Devasiri said the first stage was given in the 2011 budget but even that has many grey areas. Nobody is sure whether the five per cent salary increase for public servants comes as an allowance or an increase to the basic salary.

“We have agitating for a considerable salary increase for a long time for university academics based on their service to the nation, professionalism and academic qualifications which is the norm followed by other countries when the payment of university academics’ salaries are concerned. The Sri Lankan university academics are the lowest paid when compared with those in other countries in the region,” Dr. Devasiri said.

He said after several rounds of discussions with the Higher Education Minister and his officials, Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara, Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and UGC officials followed up with trade union action, the FUTA was able to arrive at a compromise with the government and signed the agreement with the main objective of increasing the salaries of university academics in four stages.

Dr. Devasiri said the FUTA Executive Committee would meet tomorrow to discuss the issue and the future course of action including the option to take trade union action. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)