FUTA sees problems ahead if UGC Chairman’s husband is made Colombo VC

March 12, 2013, 10:05 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe

 Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) yesterday warned that if the government appointed Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama, the husband of University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, as the Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University it would lead to several problems.

"If Dr. Kumara is appointed the VC, the UGC chief will have to withdraw herself, not merely from the appointment process for the VC, but also on all later occasions when the UGC is allocating limited budgetary resources, cadre, and other resources to universities," FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said.

Addressing a media conference at the Colombo University Faculty Centre, he said that although UGC Chief stated that they were only forwarding the three nominations selected by the University Council to the President, the University Act clearly indicated that the UGC would recommend a person to the President.

According to Section 34 (1) of the Universities Act as amended in 1995, the Vice Chancellor of a University shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b), be appointed for a term of three years by the President, upon the recommendation of the Commission, from a panel of three names recommended by the Council of that University, Dr. Dewasiri said.

He said that it was a conflict of interest when one of the nominee’s wife headed the UGC.

"UGC Chief appointed two new members to the University Council after closing the applications for the electing of a VC and one of new member is a husband of a current member," Dr. Dewasiri said adding that it was very unethical.

The university council endorsed the applications of Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama of the Colombo Science Faculty, Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake of the Colombo Arts Faculty and Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa of the Law Faculty.

Dr. Devasiri charged that only one of the three current applicants for the post of Vice Chancellor was a university professor, the highest academic position in the university system.

The senior academic said that two applicants, including the husband of the Chairperson, UGC, were not professors, nor have they held high administrative posts in the University of Colombo. One of these is a Senior Lecturer and currently Dean in a newly established Law Faculty at the Kotalawela Defence University, which is not a university under the existing Universities Act.

Answering a query by The Island as to why the FUTA did not oppose, when former Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake was involved in conflicts of interest, Dr. Dewasiri said it was an outside matter, "but this issue is directly related to the university."

Courtesy: The Island 13/03/2013

Prof. Dissanayake tops University Council poll

Appointment of Colombo University VC

March 11, 2013, 9:42 pm ,Dailymirror


by Dasun Edirisinghe

Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake, of the Colombo University Arts Faculty, Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama of the Science Faculty and Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa of the Law Faculty, obtained 15, 13 and eight votes respectively at the University Council election yesterday.

The 23-member University Council called for applications for the VC post which fell vacant after Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama assumed duties as the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC) on February 01.

Only three applications were received for the post and the election was held yesterday. Each member has three votes. Normally the University Council election is held to prune down the number of nominees to three.

The names of three members would be sent to the UGC to be forwarded to the President shortly.

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) and the Association of Law Teachers’ of the University Colombo opposed the nomination of Dr. Hirimburegama as his wife heads the UGC.

However, the UGC Chief Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama said the UGC’s function was to merely forward the three names selected by the university council to the President. It would not select the VC, she said.

Law teachers oppose Dr. Hirimburegama He has requisite qualifications says UGC Chief Colombo VC appointment

March 10, 2013, 10:34 pm 
by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Association of Law Teachers, of the University of Colombo (ALTUC), too, has expressed its opposition to Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama being a candidate for the Vice Chancellor post and called for a more transparent and participatory approach to the selection process, as it believes time given for the submission of applications and the selection process is not enough.

Earlier, President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri frowned on Dr. Hirimburegama’s nomination.

The ALTUC Secretary Dr. Anusha Perera said in a statement to the media that his association had taken those two decisions unanimously at a Special General Meeting held last Friday (08).

"A Vice Chancellor of a university is the chief executive officer who acts as the representative of the institution and the officer who acts as the leader of the institution," the ALTUC Secretary said. "As such, the Vice Chancellor is called to provide vision, leadership and inspiration to the university community and assert, among other things, the autonomy of the institution."

Dr. Perera said that one of the candidates for the VC post was the spouse of the current chairperson of the University Grants Commission.

The UGC makes its own recommendation to the President as to who should be appointed VC out of three persons.

"The actual and perceived independence of a Vice Chancellor is essential for the autonomous functioning of the university," Dr. Perera said, noting that the UGC was the regulator of higher education in Sri Lanka and had to act independently from the respective university.

"The UGC makes determinations, among other things, regarding allocation of funds and appointments to university councils. The University Services Appeals Board is under the purview of the UGC. The independence of the university from the UGC therefore is essential. Therefore, either the candidate or the UGC chairperson must immediately withdraw from their respective positions."

Dr. Perera said the other thing was the call for applications or nominations and the time allocated for discussion and debate on the suitability of the candidates within the broader university community has been effectively eliminate. "The application deadline for the post of VC was February 28 and the candidates have been scheduled to make their presentations on March 11, she said adding a longer time period is desirable if the selection process is to be more participatory and transparent. Therefore, we request the Council to consider the issue of conflict of interest. Debate on the potential impact it could have on the process and reach an informed and carefully thought through decision on the matter."

When contacted, for comment, UGC Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama denied that the UGC would nominate one name to the President out of three selected by the University Council.

"We are doing only the handing over the three names, which will be sent by the University Council, to the President," she said.

Prof. Hirimburegama said that it was a fundamental right of an academic, who had the requisite qualification to apply for the VC post.

Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama of the Colombo University’s Science Faculty, Prof. Laskhman Dissanayake of the Colombo University’s Arts Faculty and Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa of the Kotalawela Defence University have applied for the VC post, which fell vacant when Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama assumed duties as the UGC Chairman on February 01.

Courtesy: The Island 11/03/2013.

UGC head denies conflict of interest

March 7, 2013, 9:11 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe

Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama yesterday said that her institution was only handing over the names selected from the respective universities to the President when selecting a Vice Chancellor.

She was responding to the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) claim that there was a conflict of interest as UGC Chief Prof. Hirimburegama’s husband was also a nominee for the Colombo University Vice Chancellor’s post.

Prof. Hirimburegama said that it was a fundamental right of any qualified aca demic to apply for the VC’s post.

As a professional body the UGC was not favouring anyone and it was only handing over names of three nominees elected by the University Council, she said.

"When I was nominated to the VC post in the same university in 2007, I was a commission member of the UGC, but I went away when the commission processed the names at the time," Prof. Hirimburegama said.

The Colombo University VC post fell vacant as Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama assumed duties as the UGC Chairman on Feb. 01. When the university called applications for the post, Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama of the Colombo University’s Science Faculty, Prof. Laskhman Dissanayake of its Arts Faculty and Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa of the Kotalawala Defence University sent in their applications.

The council meets on March 11 to endorse the nominees.

However, FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said that they accepted that Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama was qualified to hold the post and there was no legal barrier to prevent him from applying for it.

"We raised the issue of possible conflict of interest when his name went to the UGC as his wife headed that body," he said.

FUTA opposes nomination of UGC chief’s spouse Appointment of Colombo University VC:

by Dasun Edirisinghe

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) yesterday has opposed the inclusion of University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama’s husband, Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama for the Colombo University Vice Chancellor’s post.

The Colombo University VC post fell vacant as Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama assumed duties as the UGC Chairman on Feb. 01.

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said that Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama of the Colombo University’s Science Faculty, Prof. Laskhman Dissanayake of the Colombo University’s Arts Faculty and Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa of the Law Faculty and Dean of the Kotalawala Defence University had been nominated for the post.

"Normally the university calls for applications from suitable persons for the VC  post," Dr. Dewasiri said, adding those three persons had sent in their applications.

The University Council is scheduled to meet on March 11 to endorse the nominations which will be sent to the UGC thereafter.

Dr. Dewasiri said that when those names were sent for the UGC chairman’s approval, there would be a conflict of interests as one of nominees was the husband of the incumbent UGC chairman.

The appointment is made by the President.

Dr. Dewasiri charged that the appointment of VCs to had become highly politicized.

"It has been so since Karunasena Kodituwakku was appointed the VC of the Sri Jayewardenepura University by the then UNP government in 1980s."

Kodituwakku had not been a senior lecturer at that time but appointed VC because of his political connections.

Courtesy : The Island 07/03/2013

University dons signal restart of agitation

February 27, 2013, 10:25 pm 


By Dasun Edirisinghe

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri addresses yesterday’s media briefing at the Colombo University. He is flanked by FUTA Assistant Secretary Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Vice President of the Open University Teachers’ Association B. D. Witharana . Pic by Nimal Dayaratne

University teachers yesterday warned that they would have to resume their agitation for more funds for the education sector, claiming that the entire sector was in a mess.

 Addressing a media briefing at the Colombo University, President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said that they would hold a massive public rally in Colombo, on April 02, as the first step towards preparung the general public for a common battle to protect the free education system.

 He said that their main demand, when launching last year’s strike, was for the allocation of six per cent of the GDP for education and it still remained. FUTA had already started to make university teachers aware about re-starting the agitation, he aded.

 "A recent incident where a schoolgirl in Horana was charged with stealing eight coconuts, reportedly to pay her contribution towards colour washing of her school, was a clear example of the present crisis in the education sector,"

Dr. Dewasiri said.

He said that while that incident exposed the cruelties of an ineffective juvenile justice system, it also laid bare the stark reality of ‘free education’ in the country.

 As the FUTA had repeatedly pointed out, the state was gradually disowning its responsibility in providing the service of education and is asking children and families to accept the burden, Dr. Dewasiri said.

 He said schools routinely collected funds from parents for school expenses through school development committees and other means.

 "We demanded an increase in funding for state education, but the government increased ministers of education instead," Dr. Dewasiri said.

 He said the government failed to allocate 6% of the GDP to education but a huge portion of funds would go to maintain the newly appointed minister and his staff. 

The senior academic said that they could estimate the government’s attention to the education sector by the person who was appointed as the new education service minister.  

 For people and events

An exhibition of Catholic Eucharistic Miracles will be launched from St Lucis’s Cathedral with the participation of Rt Rev Dr.Emmanuel Fernando, Auxilliary Bishop of Colombo at 9.30 am on March 1.

 Courtesy: The Island 28/02/2013

What ails higher education in Sri Lanka?

February 22, 2013, 10:00 pm , The Island

Dr. Muttukrishna Sarvananthan, Principal Researcher, Point Pedro Institute of Development will deliver a lecture on "What Ails Higher Education in Sri Lanka?" at the ICES Auditorium, 2, Kynsey Terrace Colombo 8 on Wednesday, February 27th at 4.00 p.m. Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri, Head Department of History, University of Colombo and President, Federation of University Teachers’ Association will respond.

SB blames JVP for student leaders not completing degree courses

February 17, 2013, 10:07 pm , The Island


by Dasun Edirisinghe

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake yesterday blamed the JVP for the failure of student union leaders to complete their degree courses after 1985.

Responding to the JVP’s statements attacking him, the angry minister said that the JVP and its breakaway Frontline Socialist Party, were getting innocent undergraduates to carry forward their bankrupt political ideologies.

"After 1985, most of those who led the Inter University Students’ Federation and other JVP affiliated students’ unions in universities countrywide have not completed their degree courses," he said.

Dissanayake said a majority of them were from very rural areas and were obstructing other students from entering universities.

"We too were student leaders, when we were in the university, but all of us completed our degrees successfilly," the minister said.

Naming some now prominent figures, such as minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera, Mahinda Wijesekera, Minister Reginold Cooray, Ministry Secretary Willie Gamage, former UGC Chief Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, Prof. Navaratne Bandara of the Peradeniya University, Students Affairs Director of the Higher Education Ministry Keerthi Mawellage and former examination commissioner general Anura Edirisinghe, he said that they had also engaged in politics and student union activities in the university, but they completed their degree courses and now serve the country.

He said that JVP affiliated student leaders did not complete their degrees and sacrificed their higher education to fulfill an unrealistic dream of the bankrupt political party.

Nimal blames tuition mafia for commercialisation of education

February 17, 2013, 9:25 pm , The Island

BY DON ASOKAWIJEWARDENA

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva claimed that the tuition mafia had totally commercialised the present educational system. Some teachers in government schools

Run off to tuition centres without attending to their school responsibilities, he said.

When a student passed an examination with distinction, the credit went to the teachers who taught the student. But there was no dispute over the fact that private tuition was necessary for a student who was weak in studies. If teachers had taught the students properly in all subjects, no private tuition would have been necessary, he said at the presentation of an award to Danuka Ravishan, who obtained the highest marks in mathematics, in the Badulla district, at the GCE A/L.

He pointed out that the people in the Uva province suffered from untold hardships during the imperialist rule. Everything was destroyed by them. Many young men over 18 were killed. After the Independence, not a single government had been able to develop the Uva province. The country’s poorest divisional secretariat called Redeemaliyadde was situated in the Badulla district, he said.

The people were under the impression that only the students attending Colombo schools could enter the universities, but even those studying at Badulla Dharamadutha had entered universities, Minister de Silva added.

He said that some fathers were enriching liquor bars. When their children failed the examinations, they kept blaming the teachers. The educational system should be job-oriented, because it was fundamental to the development of any nation, he said

President orders release of Jaffna Uni. students

February 12, 2013, 10:10 pm , the island


By Anura Balasuriya

 President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the release of two undergraduates of the Jaffna University who were being held in custody.

The President gave the order following a request made to him by the parents of the two students, when they met him at the Jaffna District Development Council meeting.

The parents complained that their children had been taken into custody two and a half months back and pleaded for their release.

President Rajapaksa said that the parents must be vigilant to what their children were doing and reminded them that it was their duty to direct their children to obtain a proper education.