The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Yes, pardon me—not when he was President, but earlier—there was an issue during the appointment of the Vice Chancellor, and you intervened to ensure justice. If I recall correctly, there was a major struggle when the Council proposed two names instead of three for appointment. Please correct me if I am wrong. But what is happening now? When Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government was in office, you opposed such things. Now, under your Government too, a Council—this was proposed before you came—has proposed names, and something similar has happened. Specifically, for the post of Vice Chancellor of Rajarata University, the names of Prof. [illegible] Jayasinghe, Dr. Rajapakse and Prof. Percy Wijewardena were proposed. That Council was appointed before this Government came in. Those were proposals sent by that Council. But now what has happened? Those three names were sent back, a new Council has been appointed, and that Council is told to send three new names. Councils are not comprised of political henchmen; they are learned, intelligent people. Nevertheless, that is what has happened.

¶ 02 Similarly, at the Eastern University and the South Eastern University, the same kind of situation has arisen.