Friday, 13 February 2015 00:00
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University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama has tendered her resignation.
Higher Education State Minister Professor Rajiva Wijesinghe said Professor Hirimburegama’s letter of resignation had been directed to him.
Another six members of the UGC have also resigned from the Commission along with her.
The Vice Chairman Prof. Ranjith Senaratne, members of the UGC Prof. Abhaya Gunaratna, Prof. Subramnaium Mohandas, Prof. Malkanthi Chandrasekara, Prof. Nalin de Silva and Prof. Sudantha Liyangae have tendered their resignations.
The trade union of Sri Lanka university teachers, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) said last month that they have decided to launch a campaign demanding the resignation of Prof. Hirimburegama from the post.
FUTA charged that Prof. Hirimburegama has misused her position and subjected her office to “partisan politicisation” by publicly campaigning for presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa and using her position to influence university academics to sign a petition in favor of Rajapaksa.
However, it has been reported that new members to the UGC have not been appointed yet Prof. Hirimburegama will continue to function as the Chairperson until a replacement is appointed.
