The Hon. (Mrs.) Nilusha Lakmali Gamage, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to speak on the Universities (Amendment) Bill. This is a progressive reform. The current Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978, is over 46 years old and has practical gaps and ambiguities in institutional governance and appointments, as discussed with academics under the leadership of our Hon. Prime Minister.

¶ 02 Consistent with our policy mandate, we address ambiguities around the selection and appointment to key administrative posts. Under amendments to section 49, Deans may be selected from among Senior Professors, Professors, Associate Professors, and Senior Lecturers (Grade I), widening eligibility. We also empower the Council to remove a Dean before the end of term for cause, and we introduce term limits.

¶ 03 Amendments to section 51 set out the procedure for appointing Heads of Departments by the Council, provide for their removal before the end of term where necessary, and introduce term limits for HoDs. Minimum qualifications are stipulated; terms are limited to two consecutive periods. This prevents long-term stagnation under underperforming leadership and creates opportunities for younger academics. It also provides due process for removal where warranted.

¶ 04 Previously, VCs appointed HoDs, creating space for favoritism and sidelining capable academics who disagreed with the VC. This amendment remedies such issues and marks a positive, pro-university beginning. Our Government will not politicize education; the Opposition is attempting to weaponize it. We urge them not to obstruct beneficial reforms for children’s futures.

¶ 05 Our national objective is to develop human capital to earn more foreign exchange. These reforms support that aim. I urge all Members to support this progressive Bill.

¶ 06 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.