The Hon. Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am pleased to join the debate on amending the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978—now almost 46 years old. Many Sri Lankan laws have not been updated, causing governance problems and litigation.

¶ 02 In 1978, information technology, global rankings, international student and faculty exchanges, and the contribution of higher education to national economic development were all limited. In 2026, these contexts have entirely changed, so we must reform the Act accordingly. Universities are knowledge hubs crucial to national human resource development and must match global competitiveness.

¶ 03 For example, universities contribute through research, knowledge creation, human capacity development, community engagement and exchanges, social responsibility, cultural promotion, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry linkages. The UGC’s role, as well as those of University Councils and Senates, is vital. Strengthening UGC oversight and clarifying Council and Senate powers can drive change.

¶ 04 There are significant issues in appointing Deans and Heads of Departments due to legal ambiguities. Eligibility and clarity—for example, Senior Lecturers (with three years’ service) applying for Dean—must be codified. Many remain in the same posts too long; removal mechanisms are unclear. Authorities should be able to remove non-performing or errant leaders—ideally with at least a two-thirds majority of the relevant body.

¶ 05 Currently, Vice Chancellors often appoint their preferred Heads, while Councils play large roles in recommending VCs. If we want checks and standards, UGC must be empowered further to ensure quality and compliance, while Councils and Senates receive clear powers and procedures under the Act.

¶ 06 Compared globally, our outputs—graduate quality, language proficiency, employable skills—are lagging. Curricula and pedagogy need reform to align with labour market needs. To perform, departments must have leaders with proper managerial and academic capacities.

¶ 07 From 2022 to now, 566 university academics have left the country, with many others resigning for various reasons. We must reform the law, fill cadres, and enhance standards.

¶ 08 As of now, approval has been sought to recruit 5,680 staff (2,159 academic and 3,521 non-academic). The Cabinet has approved 3,713. By 2026.01.19, 640 have been recruited (academic and non-academic). We must expedite the rest to raise our universities’ global standing. Thank you.