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. Extract From Online Island