Conflicting claims from Ruhuna uni students, former VC and competent authority
View(s):University of Ruhuna students have raised concerns about issues they faced during the previous Vice Chancellor’s tenure, such as penalties, revoked studentships, and faculty promotions, and are calling for these matters to be addressed and a transparent process reinstated.
IUSF Convener Madushan Chandrajith urged that penalties on UoR students, including revoked studentships and graduation bans, be lifted. He also criticised penalties on non-academic staff and faculty promotions on alleged favouritism, calling for a return to a transparent process. Additionally, students demanded an inquiry into the tenure of former Vice Chancellor Senior Prof Sujeewa Amarasena.
Dr Manjula de Silva, President of the Lecturers’ Union at the University of Ruhuna’s Faculty of Science, noted that although a competent authority has been appointed to act in place of the Vice Chancellor, students expect their concerns to be addressed.
He added that the appointment has already fostered a better learning environment, and there is hope that the Competent Authority will address the issues raised by both students and lecturers impartially.
Speaking to the Education Times, The Competent Authority, and former Vice Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL) Prof R M U S K Rathnayaka, said that all academic activities at the university have resumed. He confirmed that the general convocation, scheduled for December 12 and 13, will proceed as planned.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has appointed new council members for the UoR. Following this, applications have been invited for the position of Vice Chancellor.
A special council meeting is set to take place next week, where three shortlisted candidates will be selected. These names will then be forwarded to the President, who will make the final appointment, added Prof Rathnayaka.
Prof Rathnayaka acknowledged the student grievances and assured that the administration is working on strategies to address these issues. Plans are underway to establish grievance-handling committees to provide solutions.
“My focus during my brief tenure of about three months will be to resolve these concerns and ensure the smooth functioning of the university,” he said.
Any inquiries into the tenure of former VC Senior Prof Amarasena will be handled by the Ministry of Higher Education, with no involvement from him during his tenure as the Competent Authority, Prof Rathnayaka clarified.
Senior Prof Amarasena voiced that if any party believes he has misappropriated funds, they should file a formal complaint with the CID or the Bribery Commission, rather than making unfounded allegations. He added that he is staying silent for now, as he is confident he has not committed any wrongdoing that would harm the university. (NA)
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