The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Answer tabled.

¶ 02 (a) Vacancies in academic staff (as at 2026.03.30)

¶ 03 - Universities under the University Grants Commission: 3,027 - Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka: 22 - Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka: 08 - University of Vocational Technology: 09 - Ocean University of Sri Lanka: 07 - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University: 70

¶ 04 (i) For universities under the UGC, requests to fill essential vacancies (as at 2026.03.30) have been referred to the Department of Management Services (DMS); upon approval, recruitment is undertaken by respective universities and HEIs.

¶ 05 Further, based on recommendations of the Committee to Review Recruitment Processes in Public Service and Manage Human Resources (2025/2026), Cabinet approved filling 1,458 of the 3,027 academic vacancies. As at 2026.02.26, recruitment to 445 posts has been completed and the balance is in process.

¶ 06 Buddhist and Pali University: Cabinet/DMS approvals were obtained for Senior Lecturer II/I / Lecturer (Prob.) / Lecturer (Contract) posts; of 12 approved senior/lecturer posts, 6 have been recruited; interviews concluded for 4 and referred to the Governing Council; one interview pending. Of 10 Lecturer (Temporary) posts, 5 recruited; interviews for 2 concluded and referred to the Council; interviews for the remaining 3 being arranged. Further requests to fill 4 Professor (Chair) and 7 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer posts are being submitted to the Committee for approval.

¶ 07 Bhiksu University: Action to fill 8 academic vacancies: 1) Professor (Chair) – 3: One application received (10.08.2025 notice); processing. Fresh notice (18.01.2026) issued for remaining two; processing continues. 2) Senior Lecturer II/I / Lecturer (Prob.) / Lecturer (Temporary) – 2: Approval received on 22.12.2025; notice issued 18.01.2026; processing. One incumbent resigned 31.12.2025; approval being sought via the Committee to fill. 3) Instructor (Buddhist) – 1: Approval not yet granted. 4) Instructor (Chinese) – 1: Approval granted; UGC recruitment scheme pending; recruitment to proceed once scheme is issued. 5) Instructor (Japanese) – 1: Approval not yet granted; UGC scheme not yet issued.

¶ 08 University of Vocational Technology: Approval to recruit for 9 vacancies (Professor and Lecturer grades) has been granted; interviews for 7 Lecturer posts convened; the Professor vacancy to be progressed considering internal promotions and then recruitment.

¶ 09 Ocean University: Press advertisements issued; applications called to fill 7 academic vacancies; interviews to be held.

¶ 10 General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University: Cabinet (19.08.2025) approved filling 30 of 54 academic vacancies as at 31.12.2024; interviews to be held. A further request (14.09.2025) to fill 40 remaining vacancies has been submitted to the Committee; approval awaited.

¶ 11 (iii) University of Ruhuna – Faculty of Allied Health Sciences: Severe shortage of academic and non-academic staff caused the delay. Though 104 academic cadre positions are required, only 43 are in post; non-academic staff in post is 49, of whom 13 are on study leave. Cabinet (20.12.2025) approved temporary recruitment of 20 staff; 17 non-academic and 3 academic have been recruited. UGC requested DMS approval on 19.09.2025 to recruit 79 (36 academic and 43 non-academic); approval has been granted for 51 posts (36 academic and 15 non-academic) via Cabinet Decision dated 03.03.2026; expedited recruitment is underway. Academic activities for the 2023/2024 intake commenced on 05.01.2026.