Anthare IUSF launches protest against Kotelawala Private University Bill

Sri Lanka’s major students’ union, Inter University Students’ Federation IUSF “Anthare” says the government is planning to pass the Kotelawala Private University Act, which was defeated in 2018, in another round. IUSF further says that Cabinet approval was obtained for the bill on March 26 and the Kotelawala Bill is scheduled to be discussed in the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Defense tomorrow June 22.

On June 21 , IUSF launched a protest near Colombo Fort Railway Station demanding government to withdraw the proposed Kotelawala Private University Act. A tense situation arose during the protest among police and students.

“The government has launched an attack on a peaceful protest organized by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) today against the Kotelawala Act, which is destroying free education to be passed under the guise of an epidemic. The protest continued to be disrupted and assaults, reprimands and threats were made. It is the policy of the government to launch repression instead of responding to the call for rights and all forces must line up against it” says Inter University Student Federation.

Inter University Student Federation is planning to launch several protests coming days against the Kotelawala Private University Act.

University lecturers union, the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) is not happy over the proposed bill and says that universities and higher education will be militarized through the Bill. The KNDU Bill was presented to Parliament in March 2021.

Meanwhile National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarian Dr. Harini Amarasuriya recently said the proposed Bill will pave the way for militarisation and privatisation of Higher Education in the country. The Parliamentarian said that the proposed Bill will also reduce the standards of the country’s Higher Education Sector.

www.lankauniversity-news.com

2022 Grade One Admission Guidelines and Application Form Released. Deadline July 31

Closing date of applications for admission of Grade One 2022 extended till July 31st. Education ministry released official 2022 Grade One Admission Guidelines and Application Forms and can download via this link www.moe.gov.lk. 

English application Form download here link provided. The instructions and the relevant Application Form can be downloaded from the official website of the Ministry www.moe.gov.lk web. The deadlines for the application has been set for June 30 and now extended till July 31. The instructions and the relevant Application Form can be downloaded from the official website of the Ministry www.moe.gov.lk and also can download this Sinhala PDF here and English PDF form here here .

2022 Grade One Admission Guidelines and Application Form released

www.lankauniversity-news.com

Vavuniya University is the 17th National University in Sri Lanka. Campus converted as a University

A new member joined to the Sri Lankan university system. Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of Education issued a Gazette Extraordinary and convert the “Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka,” as “University of Vavuniya, Sri Lanka”. Vavuniya University will be the 17th National University of Sri Lanka. Hence the Vavuniya Campus affiliated to the University of Jaffna will be an independent university from August 1st.

The extraordinary gazette notification in this regard issued.

THE UNIVERSITIES ACT, No. 16 OF 1978 Order under section 21
BY virtue of the powers vested in me by section 21 of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978,1, Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of Education, in consultation with the University Grants Commission, do by this Order —
(a) establish with effect from August 01, 2021, a University, for the purpose of providing, promoting and developing higher education in the branches of learning of Business Studies, Applied Science and Technology Studies;
(b) assign such University the name and style of “University of Vavuniya, Sri Lanka”;
(c) specify the location which shall be the seat of such University within the administrative District of Vavuniya;
(d) specify that the University shall develop courses connected to a wide range of related disciplines with the aim of providing the students with a well-grounded education with potential to develop specialization in chosen disciplines;
(e) specify that the University shall place greater emphasis on educating students on creating value within the local resource base; and
(f) specify that such University shall comprise of the Faculties and the Departments of study set out in Column I and II respectively, of the Schedule hereto: –

Column I Column II
Faculties Departments of Study
Faculty of Business Studies Department of Finance and Accountancy
Department of English Language Teaching
Department of Project Management
Department of Human Resource Management
Department of Marketing Management
Department of Business Economics
Department of Management and Entrepreneurship
Faculty of Applied Science Department of Physical Science
Department of Bio-Science
Faculty of Technological Studies Department of Information and Communication
Technology

www.lankauniversity-news.com

GCE O/L Exam Results Release to delay due to COVID 3rd wave. Results in July month?

According to some sources O/L exam results release will delay due to the prevailing 3rd coronavirus wave, limit government offices’ staff, lock-downs and travel restrictions. Sources suggest result will release in July. Several fake news are circulating via social media saying O/L exam results release dates. Results will release to examination department official www.doenets.lk website. Examination Department officials have NOT so far announced the exact O/L results releasing date or the time.

Few months ago Sri Lanka Education Minister said that 2020 GCE O/L examination results will be released in June month. The results of the GCE Ordinary Level Exam held from March 01 to 10 are expected to be released by June month and accordingly, plans have been made to start new A/L classes for these students from 2021 July, said Education Minister Prof. GL Peiris. 

www.lankauniversity-news.com

FUTA unhappy over arbitrary rejection of nominations for the post of VC of Open University of Sri Lanka. Writes to President expressing extreme displeasure and strong opposition

Sri Lanka university teachers’ union, Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) writes to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressing extreme displeasure and strong opposition regarding the arbitrary rejection of the names of candidates recommended by the council of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), for the post of Vice Chancellor (VC).

According to FUTA, President’s office has arbitrarily rejected the shortlist names with no apparent reason. FUTA says they believe such an arbitrary action creates an extremely negative precedent for the entire university system. This arbitrary rejection implies that President has no faith either in the VC selection system introduced by the government or in the council of the university, which is the supreme governance body of the institution. This message sent out by this action is that the President will reject nominations for the post of VC until such time that a name acceptable to the him is forwarded and it will lead to the direct politicization of the VC selection process. Such an impression within the academic community will discourage many highly qualified and independent academics from applying for the top position in the university, leaving the door open for mediocre and politically partisan individuals to become the VC.

Arbitrary rejection of the nominations for the post of Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL).

Full Letter – As the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA), the body that represents all academic staff of the entire state university system in the country we write to express our extreme displeasure and strong opposition regarding the arbitrary rejection of the names of candidates recommended by the council of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), for the post of Vice Chancellor (VC) of that University, which falls vacant on 23/06/2021.

We would like to bring to your attention that these candidates have been selected following a procedure introduced by your government through the University Grants Commission (UGC) Circular No 02/2020 of 4th May 2020. Under this system, five candidates are selected at first by a five-member committee comprising two academics from within the university and three members nominated by the UGC. The circular requires this committee to allocate marks to the applicants according to a pre-defined set of criteria as specified in the aforementioned circular. Then within the same day, the council of the university re-allocates marks for the five candidates based on their qualifications, experience and a presentation they may before the council, and select three names which are ranked according to the marks they receive. This list is then forwarded to the UGC and the UGC is expected to forward this list to your excellency with its recommendation. As mentioned in clause no.34 (1) (a) of the Universities Act of 1978 it is the President’s duty to then appoint a suitable candidate from the three names thus sent considering the UGC’s recommendation.

We observe that this entire procedure, which took up to 06 months was carried out properly in this instance, but your office has arbitrarily rejected the shortlist with no apparent reason. As FUTA we believe such an arbitrary action creates an extremely negative precedent for the entire university system. This arbitrary rejection implies that you have no faith either in the VC selection system introduced by your own government or in the council of the university, which is the supreme governance body of the institution. This message sent out by this action is that the President will reject nominations for the post of VC until such time that a name acceptable to the him is forwarded and it will lead to the direct politicization of the VC selection process. Such an impression within the academic community will discourage many highly qualified and independent academics from applying for the top position in the university, leaving the door open for mediocre and politically partisan individuals to become the VC.

In the current period of crisis where the Corona virus pandemic has caused multiple negative impacts on Sri Lanka’s economy and society, we need independent and qualified academics to lead our university system. Upending an established procedure and creating confusion within the academic community is not the kind of action that we as FUTA expect from an enlightened political leadership. We also believe that the arbitrary rejection of the nominations undermines the core principles of autonomy and democratic governance enshrined within the Universities Act of 1978 and creates an impression of highly politicized executive overreach in university governance. Given the above context, FUTA demands that the re-advertisement process for the post of VC of the OUSL be immediately halted and that a suitable candidate from the already recommended list be appointed as soon as possible. Your excellency’s failure to act responsibly and transparently at this juncture can lead to the destabilization of the entire university system of the country.

www.lankauniversity-news.com

Western Province Schools to open by February 15

Sri Lanka Education Ministry is hoping to re-open the schools in the Western Province (WP) by February 15, Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said. Western Province Schools to open by February 15.

He said the Education Ministry should act based on the information received from the non-health risk schools and accordingly could commence educational activities in other schools in the rest of the areas in the WP. Hence, such recommendations should be submitted to the Ministry before February 10.

Based on that, decision will be taken subsequent to the recommendation by the Director General of Health. He said the District Development Committees will meet on January 28, 29 and February 1 to take appropriate decisions regarding the commencement of schools with the participation of the Regional Health Officers.

Accordingly, it was revealed that there are 1,576 schools in 11 education zones in the WP, from those schools, nearly 79,000 children are scheduled to sit for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination scheduled to be held in March, he said.

The Health authorities have agreed to open 907 schools in the WP from January 25 for the students who will appear for the O/L Examination this year, he said.

It was decided at a discussion held at the Ministry yesterday about the commencement of schools for other grades in the WP after consulting all parties including the Government Agents, Divisional Secretaries and Chairmen of the Regional Development Institutions in each District, Prof. Perera added. Source – DailyMirror

www.lankauniversity-news.com

Sri Lanka conveys its gratitude to India for Covid19 vaccine gift

Expressing its gratitude for India’s help in a time of need, Sri Lanka has thanked New Delhi for its gift of 5 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses. The island-nation received the consignment of Covishield vaccines from India on Thursday, reports IndiaNewsNetwork

A statement from the Sri Lankan President’s office stated that vaccination is set to commence from January 29 at six main hospitals in the Western Province. The island-nation has prioritized 150,000 health workers, 120,000 members of tri-forces, police and security forces, the release added.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took to Twitter to acknowledge India’s help. He said, “Received 500,000 Covid-19 vaccines provided by people of India at BIA today (28). 

Thank you PM Shri Narendra Modi and people of India for the generosity shown towards people of Sri Lanka at this time in need.”

India’s gift of vaccines was handed over to President Rajapaksa at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay in a programme titled ‘Vaccine Maitri- Gifting of India’s Covishiled Vaccines to Sri Lanka’.

The vaccines, weighing about 1,323 kg, will initially be stored at the airport’s cold storage facilities before being transported in refrigerated vehicles to 25 districts at a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius.

India has supplied a consignment of 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India. Sri Lanka’s drug regulatory authority had earlier this month approved emergency use of the Covishield Vaccine.

The vaccines that reached Colombo on Thursday are India’s gift to the island-nation under its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative, under which it has supplied vaccines to seven other countries in the South Asian region.

The supply of vaccines by India is a fulfillment of the promise made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa during the bilateral summit held in September last year.

Prime Minister Modi had pledged all possible support to the island-nation for minimizing health and economic impact of the pandemic.

Sri Lanka is an important constituent of India’s Neighbourhood First policy. In keeping with this policy, New Delhi launched Operation Vaccine Maitri under which it supplied Covid-19 vaccines to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had paid a three-day state visit to Sri Lanka in January and had discussed cooperation for post-Covid health and economic recovery. Jaishankar had received a formal request from Sri Lanka for India’s assistance in obtaining the Covid vaccines.

Source – IndiaNewsNetwork