Wed, May 29, 2013, 11:47 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.![]()
May 29, Colombo: The Executive Committee of the Colombo University Federation of Teachers Unions wrote to the members of the Colombo University Senate demanding them to boycott the senate meeting today as a symbolic gesture of dissent to the appointment of Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama as the Vice Chancellor of Colombo University.
Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama is the husband of Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama who was the former Vice Chancellor of the university. She was promoted as the Chairman of the University Grants Commission recently by the President leaving the VC post vacant.
The Executive Committee has asked the senate members to stand with them in solidarity to show their dissent to Dr. Hirimburegama's appointment.
According to a report in Colombo Telegraph the letter highlights the following three factors.
1. University of Colombo is the oldest and most prestigious institution of higher education in this country. In the past it has been led by senior members of the academic community, with great stature and vision such as Prof. Nicholas Attygalle, Prof. B.A. Abeywickrema, Prof. P.P.G.L. Siriwardena, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara, Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda to name a few, who have commanded the highest respect, both within and outside the university system. To continue this tradition, we believe that whoever is appointed to this post as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, should be a person of exemplary academic achievements, preferably having achieved the rank of Professor in the university system, and also having a track record of leadership and administrative experience.
2. It has been argued that Dr. Hirimburegama possess the minimal qualifications required for the post. Most of you have sat at interview boards to recruit people to post graduate courses, Departments etc., In these instances we use minimal qualifications to shortlist the candidates for the interview. But do we recruit the person(s) with minimal qualifications to the post when there are highly qualified candidates who can be recruited? Think of situations that you know of, where we have failed to follow this important principle in the past and have recruited persons with minimal qualifications for positions in the academic ranks and how they have performed subsequently? That is the level of stringency we apply even when we recruit a probationary lecturer the lowest academic rank in the University because we wish to maintain high standards. Yet, when it comes to the Vice Chancellor of the University are we prepared to overlook this important principle? Shouldn't we always strive to get the best candidate?
3. As the new Vice Chancellor happens to be the husband of the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo it will seriously undermine the autonomy and independence of the University of Colombo. The UGC chairman has already violated the University Act by sending all three names recommended by the council to his Excellency the President instead of recommending a single name for appointment which is clearly stated in the Act. Further, she has actively canvassed for her husband, to be appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo which is highly unethical and that goes against the norms of decency.
May 29, Colombo: The Executive Committee of the Colombo University Federation of Teachers Unions wrote to the members of the Colombo University Senate demanding them to boycott the senate meeting today as a symbolic gesture of dissent to the appointment of Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama as the Vice Chancellor of Colombo University.
Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama is the husband of Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama who was the former Vice Chancellor of the university. She was promoted as the Chairman of the University Grants Commission recently by the President leaving the VC post vacant.
The Executive Committee has asked the senate members to stand with them in solidarity to show their dissent to Dr. Hirimburegama's appointment.
According to a report in Colombo Telegraph the letter highlights the following three factors.
1. University of Colombo is the oldest and most prestigious institution of higher education in this country. In the past it has been led by senior members of the academic community, with great stature and vision such as Prof. Nicholas Attygalle, Prof. B.A. Abeywickrema, Prof. P.P.G.L. Siriwardena, Prof. Stanley Wijesundara, Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda to name a few, who have commanded the highest respect, both within and outside the university system. To continue this tradition, we believe that whoever is appointed to this post as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, should be a person of exemplary academic achievements, preferably having achieved the rank of Professor in the university system, and also having a track record of leadership and administrative experience.
2. It has been argued that Dr. Hirimburegama possess the minimal qualifications required for the post. Most of you have sat at interview boards to recruit people to post graduate courses, Departments etc., In these instances we use minimal qualifications to shortlist the candidates for the interview. But do we recruit the person(s) with minimal qualifications to the post when there are highly qualified candidates who can be recruited? Think of situations that you know of, where we have failed to follow this important principle in the past and have recruited persons with minimal qualifications for positions in the academic ranks and how they have performed subsequently? That is the level of stringency we apply even when we recruit a probationary lecturer the lowest academic rank in the University because we wish to maintain high standards. Yet, when it comes to the Vice Chancellor of the University are we prepared to overlook this important principle? Shouldn't we always strive to get the best candidate?
3. As the new Vice Chancellor happens to be the husband of the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo it will seriously undermine the autonomy and independence of the University of Colombo. The UGC chairman has already violated the University Act by sending all three names recommended by the council to his Excellency the President instead of recommending a single name for appointment which is clearly stated in the Act. Further, she has actively canvassed for her husband, to be appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo which is highly unethical and that goes against the norms of decency.