The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I raise this as a matter of privilege. On 2025.02.27, I asked a supplementary question from the Hon. Prime Minister regarding the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of Rajarata University. The answer provided to Parliament was, whether knowingly or not, incorrect. Presenting false information misleads this august Assembly and violates my privilege.

¶ 02 In 2024, according to the University Council’s decision, three names — Professor Ginige (Ginigaddara), Dr. Rajapaksha, and Professor Percy Wijewardena — were proposed. I asked whether a new Council was appointed and a fresh interview conducted. The Hon. Prime Minister stated that the UGC had rejected the names and therefore a fresh selection had to be made. This is erroneous. To prove this, I table a letter dated 2025.01.06 from the Secretary of the University Grants Commission, Dr. Priyantha Premakumara, to the Registrar of Rajarata University.

¶ 03 The letter, titled “Appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (RUSL)”, states that the Secretary to the President informed the Secretary, Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, to instruct the UGC to reinitiate the application process, adhere to prescribed procedures, and submit a suitable nomination for the post of Vice-Chancellor of RUSL in compliance with Section 34 of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978. I have tabled this letter, Hon. Speaker.

¶ 04 Therefore, the direction to reinitiate was from the President’s Secretary to the Ministry Secretary, not because the UGC rejected the earlier names. Normally, the UGC recommends one name to the President from the Council’s three. If there is a conflict, the UGC can return it to the Council. But here, as per the tabled letter, the instruction to recall and reinitiate came from the President’s Secretary. Hence, the statement that the UGC rejected the names is incorrect.

¶ 05 Further, the UGC usually sends an observer to the Council’s selection process. It appears the rejection emanated from the President’s Secretary; the marking scheme has not changed. If the Hon. Prime Minister has a letter showing that the UGC rejected the Council’s decision, she should table it. Previously, I also raised before the Privilege Committee false information given by the then Minister of Power. It is serious when even the Prime Minister presents false information. I request that this be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

¶ 06 Thank you.