Rejection by University of Jaffna of Application for the Post of Senior Professor by Senior Professor S.R.H. Hoole DSc (Lond.), FIEEE

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ADYAPANA 2014 with LECS, Higher Education Ministry and S. Thomas College
Absence of Private Universities Act stifling Sri Lanka’s progress - govt.

February 19, 2014, 9:31 pm , The Island



by Zacki Jabbar

At the ADYAPANA 2014 launch: From left, Senior Manager LECS, Husnie Rauf, General Manager LECS,Aasim Mukthar,

Treasurer S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia Old Boys Association, Shanil Jayasekara, Warden, S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Prof. Indra de Soysa, Ministry of Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, Managing Director LECS, Arjun Dharmadasa and Mohammed Isthiquar, Business Development Manager, BCAS Campus - Gold Sponsor.

Sri Lanka has the potential to become a hub for educational excellence, but its inability to introduce a Higher Education Act with provision to regulate private universities was a huge drawback, a senior government official said.

Higher Education Ministry Secretary Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, addressing the launch of ADYAPANA 2014, at the Cinnamon Grand  last week, lamented that disruptive forces including the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) were preventing the New Higher Education Act which had already been drafted from  becoming law.

Asked how  Sri Lanka could become a hub of educational excellence when the Malabe Private Medical College (MPMC) was unable to function even many years after it had been issued a licence, Navaratne replied that initially there had been a drawback as the college did not have a hospital of its own, but that had been overcome and it was now ready to offer  medical degrees. "The GMOA has been unreasonably opposing the MPMC. Around 15,000 students go abroad annually for higher studies. The establishment of private universities will help save valuable foreign exchange. The Pali University has been able to attract around 1,000 foreign students. This shows that if the right environment and necessary laws are in place, we could become an international hub for educational excellence." 

When pointed out that there were many other organisations apart from the GMOA which opposed private universities, Navaratne said: "Protests are to be expected in a democracy, but we will overcome them and establish more seats of higher learning. The media has a crucial role to play in changing negative perceptions."

ADYAPANA 2014 organised by the Presidential Award winner Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS),in collaboration with the Higher Education Ministry, is scheduled to be held for the ninth consecutive year from September 26 to 28 at the BMICH. The S. Thomas College Old Boys’ Association teamed up with the exhibition from last year. The Batticaloa Edition has been fixed for later this year. ADYAPANA KALVI was conducted in Jaffna last month.

S. Thomass College Warden Prof. Indra De Soysa said that flexibility was the key to progress."ADYAPANA with a wide range of courses to offer, would not only provide the much needed flexibility that school leavers looked for, but also provide them with career guidance counselling."

Managing Director of LECS Arjun Dharmadasa said that they were confident of attracting students from many countries including the Maldives to the exhibition which would be held immediately after the conclusion of the GCE A/L. "It provides immediate higher education opportunities. Around 12,000 students visited ADYAPANA last year. There were well over 150 stalls displaying information of various courses, student programmes, higher education options and job opportunities. Despite the high level of competition and options available in the field of education, many students have continuously patronised our fair which has helped them pursue their visions successfully."

General Manager of LECS, Asim Mukthar noted that the Exhibition would feature specific pavilions for visiting universities and special sessions by top professionals focused on students and their career decisions.

ADYAPANA has through the years built a reputation of having one of the highest student turnover rates, he said. This year’s event will comprise many other attractions focused on the growing student population and provide the visitors with value additions, he added

Undergrads build up protest momentum

February 17, 2014, 10:11 pm , the island

By Dasun Edirisinghe

Undergraduates from all universities have planned protests in Galle and Colombo today and on Feb. 20 against reducing the Allied Health Sciences (AHS) degree programme from four years to three and disrupting their agitations.

Addressing a media conference in Colombo yesterday, Convener of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF), Najith Indika said that AHS students attached to the Karapitiya Medical Faculty had been staging a sathyagraha against the reduction of the duration of their degree course opposite the Galle bus stand and it would reach the 50th day today.

"We have organised a protest in Galle to coincide with our Sathyagraha entering its 50th day," he said, adding that the university authorities had not yet heeded the pleas of AHS undergraduates.

Indika said that another sathyagraha was being held at the Galaha Junction by the AHS undergraduates of the Peradeniya University.

The protesters have also organised a protest march to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and a demonstration on Thursday (20).

He said they would not give up the ongoing sathyagraha opposite the Rajarata University in Mihintale against the suspension of 27 undergraduates.

Are Our Universities Keeping Out Our Best?

February 16, 2014 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,Opinion | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

By Arul K. Selvaratnam -

At a time when our universities badly lack qualified staff and are trying to rebuild themzelves, a Selection Committee meeting on Jan. 30 2014 found Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole unqualified for the post of Professor of Computer Science on all the measures specified by the UGC’s Circular 916. So says the report of the Selection Committee consisting of  Prof. V. Arasaratnam (VC), Prof. S. Srisatkunarajah (Dean/Science), Dr. E.V.A. Charles (Head/CS), Prof. N.D. Kodikara of Colombo  and Prof. N.G.J. Dias of Moratuwa (Senate Nominees), Prof. Mrs. Pushpa Wijekoon of Peradeniya and Prof. D.D.S. Kulatunga of Kelaniya (UGC Nominees) and Mr. P. Thyagarajah and Mr. M. Balasubramaniam (Council Nominees). Their minute to the University of Jaffna’s Council on 8 February reads that they do not recommend his appointment because he has not, to quote exactly, “obtained required minimum marks for teaching, scholarship & Academic development and Contribution to University and National/International development.”

Prof S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole

This is impossible say Prof. Hoole’s students: “Peradeniya assessed him as passing on the same measures 15 years ago. He has earned many more points since and even more in the last three years since his application. London saw fit to give him its D.Sc. degree. The IEEE made him a Fellow, the first from Sri Lanka. He has taught computer science at major US research universities. He was University of Jaffna’s, Eastern University’s and South Eastern University’s moderator and external examiner in Computer Science. To check I googled “Google Scholar Hoole.” This independent web site tracking research output lists 861 citations for him. At the 0.5 point per citation under Commission Circular 916 on recruitment of professors, this gives him 430.5 points for just one measure in the scheme of recruitment while the total required for all together in a successful application is 115! How can he fail on all measures?

The Council minute shows Prof. Hoole’s self-assessment in the three areas of assessment, namely 1) Teaching scholarship and Academic Development 2)Research, Scholarship and Creative Work and 3) Contribution to University and National Development, to be 50, 261.25 and 44, respectively.

A very upset Jaffna University academic had this to say: “We rely on the Council and the Selection Committee to check there is no wrong-doing by the administration. But here, senior responsible persons from the entire system are endorsing wrong doing and giving it the cover of respectability through their signatures. It then makes administrative manipulation more difficult to challenge. With such a big discrepancy I wish someone on the Council had queried how that was. They have failed us.” He pointed to International Development, not seen anywhere in Circular 916, as an additional requirement the system has required of Prof. Hoole.

According to Prof. Carlo Fonseka (“Returned academic excellence vs entrenched academic mediocrity,” Island, May 12, 2011) the President in 2010 ordered Prof. Hoole’s appointment and his wife’s at Jaffna and the UGC then asked Jaffna to advertise the post. The Hooles applied early in 2011. Mrs. Hoole was summoned to an interview last year and she came all the way from the US. She was not selected allegedly for not having the required points. It is said that they fiddled her categorization between internal candidate and external to disqualify her although she could have fitted under either.

Prof. Hoole himself was summoned at the end of January, three years after his application technically expired under UGC Circular 699 as amended by Circular 732. Is it a coincidence that the closing date for VC applications was Feb. 12? Contacted by email for this piece, Prof. Hoole wrote: “I only want to say that after my wife’s experience I did not want to cancel my classes and run suddenly for the interview. So I asked for a Skype interview. I was then asked to be ready between 10 AM and 2:30 PM which was 11 PM to 4:00 AM in the US.  I waited in front of my computer all dressed up and went to bed at 4:30 when there was no call. I understand the committee dispersed in a few minutes and left without a message to me to go to bed. I wish we can cultivate greater courtesy towards people. The system will automatically get better.”

A student , now a senior engineer, was very sad: “I was in Trincomalee when the war and curfews prevented my admission letter from being delivered. I was denied admission because of being late. Prof. Hoole, a total stranger, befriended me, fought for me, took me to his home in Colombo to meet some pressmen and got my story published in the newspapers.  The authorities had to change their mind. I am an engineer today because of him. We need academics like him to be our role models.”

Prof. Carlo Fonseka in his article admits to encouraging the Hooles to return and explains, “In a system with many mediocrities those of exceptional quality make the mediocre look ugly! So the mediocrities do their damndest to eliminate the truly exceptional.”

FUTA Condemns Amendment Made To The University Act By An Extraordinary Gazette

February 7, 2014 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has condemned the latest amendment to the University Act No. 16 pf 1978. FUTA points out that through this amendment, which was published as an amendment to an extraordinary gazette on 31.01.2014 the higher education institutions granting professional degrees in fields such as medicine, engineering, architecture has a discretionary right to obtain a compliance certificate from professional bodies dealing with the respective fields.

Prof. Carlo Fonseka

FUTA points out that in this scenario the Sri Lanka Medical Council which has the mandate to uphold and quality and standards of medical education would not have the power to regulate the content of education that is being offered at these non-state institutions. Interestingly an extra ordinary gazette which was amended had made it mandatory for private institutions to obtain certificates of compliance from professional bodies responsible for the discipline. The amendment to the extraordinary gazette which was issued in January this year has taken out such obligations. This action will severely erode the standards of medical education in Sri Lanka and could eventually compromise the wellbeing of the health sector and the lives of the people of this country.

Read the gazette ; 2013 Amendment and 2014 Amendment
We publish below the FUTA General Secretary’s letter to Prof. Carlo Fonseka;
07.02.2014

Prof. Carlo Fonseka, President,
Sri Lanka Medical Council, 31, Norris Canal road, Colombo 10.

Dear Sir,

Power and Responsibility of Sri Lanka Medical Council to protect the standards of Medical Education

We, representing more than 95% of the members of the academic community of Sri Lankan state universities, are gravely concerned about the recent amendment made to the Universities Act which has specific consequences for medical education.

The amendment made to the University Act no 16 of 1978 by means of Gazette notification published on 31st January 2014 is as follows:

An amendment was made to the section 31 of the RULES made under Section 137 read with Section 70 C and 70 D of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, by the Secretary to the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of Higher Education being the Specified Authority appointed under Section 70 B of the aforesaid Act.

Previous – Extra ordinary Gazette No. 1824/21 – on 22.08.2013

31. All Non-State Institutes which have been recognized as Degree Awarding Institutes in pursuance to the Report made to the Minister by the Specified Authority under Section 70 C of the Act and which offer study programmes leading to Degrees in Medicine, Engineering, Architecture and other similar professional Degrees shall, obtain compliance certification from the relevant Specified Professional Body and shall submit such certification to the Specified Authority.

Amendment – Extra ordinary Gazette No. 1847/56 – on 31.01. 2014

31. All Non State Institutes recognized as degree awarding Institutes in pursuance to the reports made to the Minister by the Specified Authority under Section 70C of the Act and which offer study programmes leading to Degrees in Medicine, Engineering, Architecture and other similar professional Degrees also may seet* compliance certificates from respective professional bodies.

According to this amendment the pre-requisite of all non state institutes recognized as degree awarding institutes to obtain a compliance certificates from professional bodies has become discretionary. Consequently, the Sri Lanka Medical Council, which has been mandated to uphold the quality and standards of medical education, will no longer have the power to regulate the quality of medical education. It is our view that this is a serious blow to ensuring educational standards within non-state institutions.

It is our firm belief that professional bodies established under acts of parliament for the purpose of setting standards and marinating professional integrity in their respective areas should continue to fulfill their role without obstruction and interference.

We wish to bring to your attention section 19 (e) of the Medical Ordinance. This section clearly denotes that the Medical Council is the body designated to maintain minimum standards of Medical Education including standards relating to courses of study, examinations, staff, equipment, accommodation, training and other facilities at universities and other institutions which grant or confer any qualification which entitles a person to obtain registration under the ordinance. However, this power of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (as well as other professional bodies) has been undermined through the above mentioned amendment to the University Act.

It is worth emphasising that the Medical Council has the power to make representations to the Government on any matter connected with the medical profession in Sri Lanka in accordance with section 12 (3) of the Medical Ordinance. Yet, we believe amendments which have serious consequences for upholding the standards of the medical profession are being made without consultation with the Sri Lanka Medical Council.
Hence, we urge the Sri Lanka Medical Council to seriously consider this matter and to take all necessary and appropriate actions to challenge the said amendment and to protect the standards of medical education in this country. We pledge our fullest support to the Council in this regard as part of our efforts to protect the standards and quality of state education in Sri Lanka.

Thank You,
Yours Faithfully,

Dr. Rohan Fernando – General Secretary/FUTA

 *as in the Gazette, probably a printing mistake for ‘seek’. 

FUTA expresses ‘grave concern’ over recent amendment to Universities Act

February 8, 2014, 6:32 pm 

Dr. Rohan Fernando, SundayIsland

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) expressed grave concerned over the recent amendment made to the Universities Act which, it pointed out, has specific consequences for medical education.

FUTA General Secretary, Dr. Rohan Fernando says in a communiqué to SLMC President, Prof. Carlo Fonseka:

"The amendment made to the University Act No. 16 of 1978 by means of Gazette notification published on 31st January 2014 is as follows:

"An amendment was made to the section 31 of the RULES made under Section 137 read with Section 70 C and 70 D of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, by the Secretary to the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of Higher Education being the Specified Authority appointed under Section 70 B of the aforesaid Act.

"Previous - Extra ordinary Gazette No. 1824/21 – on 22.08.2013

31. All Non-State Institutes which have been recognized as Degree Awarding Institutes in pursuance to the Report made to the Minister by the Specified Authority under Section 70 C of the Act and which offer study programmes leading to Degrees in Medicine, Engineering, Architecture and other similar professional Degrees shall, obtain compliance certification from the relevant Specified Professional Body and shall submit such certification to the

Specified Authority.

"Amendment - Extra ordinary Gazette No. 1847/56 – on 31.01. 2014

31. All Non State Institutes recognized as degree awarding Institutes in pursuance to the reports made to the Minister by the Specified Authority under Section 70C of the Act and which offer study programmes leading to Degrees in Medicine, Engineering, Architecture and other similar professional Degrees also may seet* compliance certificates from respective professional

bodies. (*as in the Gazette, probably a printing mistake for ‘seek’)

"According to this amendment, the pre-requisite of all non-state institutes recognized as degree awarding institutes to obtain a compliance certificates from professional bodies has become discretionary.

"Consequently, the Sri Lanka Medical Council, which has been mandated to uphold the quality and standards of medical education, will no longer have the power to regulate the quality of medical education. It is our view that this is a serious blow to ensuring educational standards within non-state institutions.

"It is our firm belief that professional bodies established under acts of parliament for the purpose of setting standards and marinating professional integrity in their respective areas should continue to fulfill their role without obstruction and interference.

"We wish to bring to your attention section 19 (e) of the Medical Ordinance. This section clearly denotes that the Medical Council is the body designated to maintain minimum standards of Medical Education including standards relating to courses of study, examinations, staff, equipment, accommodation, training and other

facilities at universities and other institutions which grant or confer any qualification which entitles a person to obtain registration under the ordinance. However, this power of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (as well as other professional bodies) has been undermined through the above mentioned amendment to the University

Act.

"It is worth emphasising that the Medical Council has the power to make representations to the Government on any matter connected with the medical profession in Sri Lanka in accordance with section 12 (3) of the Medical Ordinance. Yet, we believe amendments which have serious consequences for upholding the standards of the medical profession are being made without consultation with the Sri Lanka Medical Council.

"Hence, we urge the Sri Lanka Medical Council to seriously consider this matter and to take all necessary and appropriate actions to challenge the said amendment and to protect the standards of medical education in this country. We pledge our fullest support to the Council in this regard as part of our efforts to protect the standards and quality of state education in Sri Lanka".

Notice issued on VC of Sri Jayewardenepura University

February 6, 2014, 9:50 pm , the island

By Chitra Weerarathne

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued notice on Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayewardenepura University Professor L. M. N. A. Karunaratne, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Professor C. L. K. Navaratne and 18 other respondents, ordering them to be present in Court or be represented by a lawyer on March 11, 2014.

The aforesaid notice was in respect of a Writ Application filed by a student, Ven. Kimbulawe Chandrarathana Thera.

The petitioner student has said that his studentship was cancelled by letter dated January 24, 2013 from the Vice Chancellor, who had said that the petitioner had been found guilty of assaulting the Head of the University and some staff members. The VC cancelled the studentship of the student monk, the petition says. But, he was allowed to sit the final year examination in February 2013.

The results of the other students were released. But, the results of the petitioner has not been released.

The petitioner has requested the Court to quash the cancellation of his studentship. He has said that the disciplinary board had not allowed him the right to explain his position.

The petitioner has also requested the Court to order the respondents to release his results.

Wijedasa Rajapakshe P.C. appeared for the petitioner.

Higher Education Ministry goes for two novel concepts

by Uditha Kumarasingh Sundayobserver

The Higher Education Ministry will introduce two novel concepts named student-outcome based education and student-centred learning in 15 universities from this month to produce skilled graduates with theoretical and practical knowledge to suit the present day needs. 

The Ministry will conduct a dialogue among university professors and lecturers to implement these concepts. An Inter-University Academic Program Conversion Competition will also be conducted among university departments and faculties to seek proposals to make this endeavour a success, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

On a directive by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake, the three departments which present the best project proposals will be selected from each university and each department will be given a cash prize of one million rupees.

Five million rupees will be given to the faculty selected from each university which presents the best proposal. In addition, the best university selected under this program will be given Rs. 10 million, he said. Dr. Nawaratne said the key component of the student outcome-based education is to shift the present paradigm of input-based education to outcome based education. 

The present teacher-centered teaching system will be shifted to student-centered learning. Guidelines have been given to each department and faculty in universities to compile a graduate profile. 

The aim of the Ministry is to produce skilled graduates with theoretical and practical knowledge by developing their communication skills, team work, confidence, innovativeness and decision-making. The classroom environment in universities will be subjected to a comprehensive change. 

Each classroom in universities will be given a multimedia projector and a laptop computer to help students do their power-point presentations. According to the student-centered learning program, university teachers would become students’ mentors or guides

JUSTA Faults Selection Procedure For Academic Positions On Campus

January 17, 2014 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

The Executive Committee of the Jaffna University Science Teachers’ Association (JUSTA) has issued an appeal to the University’s Vice Chancellor and Members of the Council with regard to selections to Academic Positions in the University.

JUSTA claims it is troubled by decisions of senior academics holding administrative responsibilities to overlook candidates with superior certified academic performances in favour of those with inferior records.

“The major criterion for selection to an academic post is academic excellence. This is because University is the highest seat for learning and its teachers do not teach from text books alone,” JUSTA said in its appeal.

JUSTA warns that selection on subjective criteria such as interview and performance easily becomes the means of abuse to favour those with superior connections and influence at the expense of persons from humbler backgrounds who have shown superior ability.

“Once this abuse takes root, the character of the University suffers, as those selected become increasingly beholden to those in authority,” the appeal said.

The Appeal to the Vice Chancellor has the support of 86 persons of the Jaffna University, including 69 members of the academic staff.

We publish below the letter in full;

University of Jaffna,
4^th December 2013.
To:The Vice Chancellor, Members of the Council and Well–wishers of the University,

Selection to Academic Positions in the University

Selection to academic positions is the task of mainly senior academics holding administrative responsibilities: the university community and the public rightly expect that this obligation is discharged conscientiously. Regrettably, we are more and more troubled by justifications from these same senior academics for overlooking candidates with superior certified academic performances, in favour of those with inferior records. The reasons frequently given – the selected candidate performed “superbly” in the interview or the candidate’s presentation was “superb” – point to the selectors trying to cover up something seriously amiss that troubles them. Current selections will determine the academic standing of the University, and its intellectual environment, for many years to come. It is now time to refresh our minds on the criteria for selection to academic positions.

The major criterion for selection to an academic post is academic excellence. This is because University is the highest seat for learning and its teachers do not teach from text books alone. They should continually update their knowledge and prepare their students accordingly. They should capture new outcomes in their research fields and apply them in their own work. A person who had absorbed what was taught over four years and applied it well in answering questions regularly set at examinations should be most suitable for the purposes given.

Hence as the first category for selection to the post of Lecturer (Probationary), the UGC has specified a First or Second Class (Upper Division) specialization in the relevant subject. Other categories are considered only when candidates in the first category are not available. When selections are made from other categories, the Council must justify it to the UGC.

UGC circular 935 states that “If the Selection Committee is not satisfied with the performance of candidate/candidates, but otherwise well qualified, such candidate/candidates be appointed as Temporary Lecturer/Lecturers for a period of one year and at the end of such period of such period they may be appointed as Lecturer (Probationary) having subjected to another interview and presentation”.

The Circular makes it clear that the certified record is the decisive criterion for selection. The presentation and interview are only to ensure that the selected candidate will not be a disaster as a teacher. It further makes it practically mandatory that the candidate having the best certified record be appointed in a temporary capacity, when there is some doubt about his capacity to teach and interviewed a year later. That makes plain the weight placed on qualification as opposed to presentation.

A Special Degree candidate has been tested in 120 credits using some 50 end-of-semester question papers (and numerous in-course assessments) by several tens of examiners. Each answer script has been marked twice by experienced examiners. The candidate had spent several hundred hours answering question papers in the examination hall. A first class is awarded based on this performance. In the selection board only Head of the Department is, in most cases, an expert in the subject. Is it that easy for such a board to reject the result obtained in the above manner and stamp a candidate as being unsuitable on the basis of a few questions fielded inadequately by the candidate during a brief interview lasting a few minutes?

To put it in another way: Whom should a board select to an academic post? A brilliant fresh graduate who did not do well in the presentation or one with an inferior record with better presentation skills?

We must further keep in mind that many years of war and migration have lowered the kind of exposure where students would pick up better English and present themselves more attractively. Under these circumstances it is incumbent on us to give students who have worked hard to overcome some of their handicaps and perform well during their four years at the University, their due opportunity to rise further. Selection on subjective criteria such as interview and performance easily becomes the means of abuse to favour those with superior connections and influence at the expense of persons from humbler backgrounds who have shown superior ability.

Once this abuse takes root, the character of the University suffers, as those selected become increasingly beholden to those in authority. 

01	Dr.A.Sivarupan	Zoology
02	S.Selvarajan	Maths & Stats
03	S.Arivalzahan	Maths & Stats
04	M.R.R.Hoole	Maths & Stats
05	N.Sivapalan	Chemistry
06	K.Velauthamurthy	Chemistry
07	K.Thabotharan	Computer Science
08	G.Rajkumar	Botany
09	M.Varathan	Maths & Stats
10	A.Laheetharan	Maths & Stats
11	K.Kannan	Maths & Stats
12	Mrs.N.Satkunanathan	Maths & Stats
13	Mr.B.Muraleetharan	Maths & Stats
14	M.Khokulan	Maths & Stats
15	M.Ananthakirishna	Maths & Stats
16	A.Nithlavarnan	Education
17	K.Sivarajah	Marketing
18	K.L.Ramanan	ELTC
19	J.Thevananth	Financial Mgt
20	S.Anandasangari	Financial Mgt
21	S.K.Kannathas	ELTC
22	Ms.S.Srisatkunarajah	Linguistics and English
23	Mr.N.Pratheeparajah	Geography
24	Mr.S.Raveenthiran	Geography
25	Mr.P.Akilan	Fine Arts
26	Prof.K.Thevarajah	Commerce
27	Dr.T.Manoranjan	Chemistry
28	Mr.S.Ketheeswaran	Library
29	N.Sivakaran	Philosophy
30	S.Sivakanthan	Sociology
31	R.Rajeshkannan	Sociology
32	S.Rajeswaran	Geography
33	A.S.Sosai	Geography
34	E. Ratnam	Marketing
35	T.Karunakaran	ELTC
36	Miss.S.Sithamparanathan	Physical Education Unit
37	G.D.Mathiyalagan	Physical Education Unit
38	Ms.E.Arulmpalam	Physical Education Unit
39	Ms.S.Shasiharan	Physical Education Unit
40	Dr.C.C.A.Sivapalan	Linguistics & English
41	Ms.S.Sivamoorthy	Linguistics & English
42	Mr.S.Wimal	Linguistics & English
43	Dr.V.Suntharesan	ELTC
44	Dr.M.Saravanapavan	ELTC
45	Dr.T.Sanathanan	Fine Arts
46	D.Arthe	ELTC
47	Mrs.J.Rasanayagam	Education
48	Mrs.V.Ravishankar	Economics
49	Mrs.P.Muraleetharan	Accounting
50	Ms.P.Sivapalan	Accounting
51	Ms.T.Kanagalingam	Accounting
52	Mr.J.Aloy Niresh	Accounting
53	Mr.S.Gobinaath	Mathematics & Statistics
54	Mrs.K.Hoole	Library
55	Ms.S.Arulanantham	Library
56	Dr.T.Kalamany	Education
57	Prof.M.Sinnathamby	Education
58	Prof.K.Sivananthamoorthy	Philosophy
59	Mrs.S.Krishnakumar	History
60	Mr.T.Arunakirinathan	ELTC
61	Dr.K.Arunthavarajah	History
62	N.Ravimannan	Botany
63	N.Sabananthar	Botany
64	C.Arunagirinathan	Botany
65	A.W.Jeevanarajah	Botany
66	Kothai  Seker	Botany
67	T.Poojithreyi	Botany
68	P.Auvai	Botany
69	S.Subaragini	Botany
70	S.Navaneethan	Botany
71	A.Revathie	Botany
72	P.T.J.Jashothan	Botany
73	R.Selvarthnam	Botany
74	B.Ragulan	Botany
75	S.Ida	Botany
76	S.Dalini	Botany
77	J.Nandakumar	Botany
78	A.C.Thavaranjit	Botany
79	Mrs.M.Visakarooban	Library
80	A. Ramanan	Computer Science
81	J.P.Jeyadevan	Chemistry
82	Dr.G. Sashikesh	Chemistry
83	Dr.(Mrs).J.Prabagar	Chemistry
84	Dr.P.Iyngaran	Chemistry
85	Mrs.R.Senthooran	Chemistry
86	Dr.P.Abiman	Chemistry

SB reverses reason

Reducing of the duration of AHS degree

January 12, 2014, 10:12 pm , the island


By Dasun Edirisinghe

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayakas yesterday admitted that his decision to reduce the four-year Allied Health Sciences (AHS) degree programme to three years had been made under pressure from the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GEOF).

Minister Dissanayakas told a public meeting in Kandy that the GEOF had opposed the four-year degree and did not allow AHS students to do clinical practices at respective teaching hospitals.

At present, AHS students from the Peradeniya and Ruhuna Universities are staging a Satyagraha at Galaha junction and Galle town respectively and boycotting lectures to protest against the reducing of the duration of the degree.

Minister Dissanayakas said that Vice Chancellors of universities, University Grants Commission (UGC) or Higher Education Ministry could not reverse the decision owing to pressure from the government doctors.

Dissanayakas told The Island few months ago that his ministry had consulted the University of Wales in the United Kingdom when designing the AHS course. The Wales course was also three years. Deaking University of Australia also offered a three-year nursing degree. The Singapore State University’s nursing degree was also a three-year course.

President of the AHS Students’ Union Ranitta Prasad yesterday asked the minister whether a trade union could meddle with the policies of the Higher Education Ministry and the UGC. He accused the minister of simply passing the buck to the GEOF.

"We will not give up our protest until winning the four – year period for our degree," Prasad said.

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University Prof. Athula Senaratne said that the Allied Health Sciences Faculty would be closed indefinitely if undergraduates did not return to lectures today.

The new degree courses started in 2006 in Peradeniya, Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura, Eastern, Rajarata and Ruhuna universities were of a four year duration. The UGC and Higher Education Ministry decided to cut it down to three years from 2009, but it was delayed due to students’ protests.