(Lanka-e-News -07.March.2016, 5.45PM) Recently, a letter was sent by the Minister of higher education and highways Lakshman Kiriella to a Dean of a faculty of the University to inquire into the suitability of the candidate closely known to him with a view to appoint him as an assistant lecturer. This letter was publicised by the media, and charges were leveled against him alleging it was a wrongful method .
Of course a wrong is a wrong , irrespective of who commits it. We have every right to mount opposition against a wrong specially because we were the victims who suffered most under the MaRa’s regime when it committed all the egregious wrongs of corruption , criminalities and inequities; and further more because we are now reposing faith in the new government of good governance with the hope that it will act righteously and duly , after overthrowing the MaRa regime that was steeped in vice and villainy.
The fact of the matter is this is not the first time such a thing has happened. It is worthy of note it was during the Rajapakse era the worst inequities , irregularities and wrongs were committed , therefore without making mention of those murky activities , the true picture cannot be portrayed.
We have not forgotten how , during the period when Ms. Kshanika Hirimburegama was the president of the University Grants Commission (UGC) , her husband Kumara Hirimburegama the Vice chancellor of the University of Colombo then , rode the high horse and had undue illegitimate control over the University .
Need we remind how the rule that the candidates who scored the highest marks at the G.C.E. adv. Level shall be selected to the University was ruthlessly and recklessly ignored during that era – incredibly , an ordinary letter from a “podiyan” M.P.like Namal Rajapakse was given preference over the established rules and regulations governing University selections. How come we did not hear the screams and squeals of Chathura of Derana against such outrageous violations at that time , who is today shouting at the top of his voice?
Might I recall , at that time , the decision of Namal was the overruling factor overpowering even the minister of higher education. To run the University administration unofficially , a Nil Balakaya secretary was appointed , and all Vice chancellors had to kowtow to him , and take orders from him .
This Nil Balakaya secretary has a special degree in criminology from the University of Sri Jayawardenapura .He was given a post in the University of visual and performimg arts to teach criminology while he was consistently and actively involved in the Nil Balakaya activities during that period. At the same time there were reports doing the rounds about a lackey of Namal Rajapakse who did not have even a basic degree from the University of visual and performing Arts .
Nobody expected Mahinda Rajapakse to meet with this disastrous fate politically this soon despite all his treacheries , villainies and perfidies. Hence, Namal who was being groomed to be Mahinda’s successor ,and with that aim in view , Namal selected some police officers and trained them so that by the time Namal becomes the president he would have his group of police officers to man the police stations as OIC’s .
In like manner when new lecturers were being appointed , in order to perpetuate the Rajapakse control , and to have the Rajapakse cronies as lecturers in the board , the name list provided by Namal was given priority . It is an open secret that some applicants who are Namal’s cronies met the Vice Chancellor beforehand – the day before interview , and how they were coached to face the interview . The Vice Chancellors and their predecessors of the Sri Jayawardena University are well aware of that.
In addition, some lecturers have made appointments to posts in the University as part of their own belongings. They used that to solicit sexual favors , and made that their main objective. Though there were most capable women within the University for the posts , there were several others who sacrificed their chastity and crept into the University .
In the social science faculty at Sri Jayawardena University , a professor had recruited his mistress as a lecturer in his academic division , and carried on his illict relationship within the University . Recently after this mistress married another man , this sex starved professor is unleashing his fury and frustration via the face book .
On the other hand the history of ‘Karunaratne’ of Kelaniya University and that of ‘Karunadasa’ of Colombo University are different .
Moreover , to recruit a lecturer to the History faculty of Sri Jayawardena University , a message was passed via phone on a Friday for an interview to be held on following Monday. Does such action conform to accepted norms and procedures in government departments? Sadly ,so far we have still not met a lecturer to question that , though there are many in the University staff who are most enthusiastic to have a mistress or stoop to rackets.
Another deplorable and despicable move is the recruitment of cronies , lackeys , relatives and favorites of chiefs of the academic divisions of the University and senior professors despite there being highly capable and most suitable candidates who can fill those posts. The other subterfuge is holding back the gazette notification no matter how many vacancies are there , until their crony , relative or lackey acquired the eligibility status to fill that vacancy .
How Manatunge family of Kelaniya University made the human resource management faculty of the Sabaragamuwa University the property of their son in law , the former Vice Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University and their daughter in law , also cannot be erased from the memory.
The latest ploy invented now is , issuing notifications calling for applications to fill vacancies while laying down eligibility requirements that are tailor made to fit the qualifications of the candidate in mind for selection. At the interview , that candidate (male or female) automatically is the choice. The visual arts and performance division of Sri Jayawardena University is making plans in this direction. A member of the fairer sex from Kelaniya University is going to be so recruited it is being forewarned.
Of course what are stated hereinbefore are just a few of the many corrupt , unethical and immoral activities of the Dons adding to the squalor in the Universities. If one is to reveal these sordid and squalid activities , volumes can be written.
In any event I wish to make reference to a ‘virtue’ among the academics of the Universities of SL .While the Universities of the world are fast advancing physically and virtuously , SL is still spawning Dons from its antiquated education system.
Though an extra allowance in addition to salary is paid towards research , a research paper comes out very rarely. Innovation too is extremely rare. In other countries, the basic qualification for recruitment has been raised to doctorate level , whereas during this same period in our country , how many are there without even a single doctorate degree in the faculties of our Universities?
At least, is there an avenue available to get information about the University academics or the name of a Don or his suitability ? Truly , how many of those aforementioned have the qualifications ?
These revelations are not meant to embarrass the University Dons , but to bring home to all the actual position. If the media focuses its attention on this direction , how beneficial it will be ?
By a Lanka e news special columnist
Translated by Jeff
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by (2016-03-07 12:18:12)
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