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President Chandrika Kumaratunga has requested the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to submit an explanation for the ‘surprising and disturbing’ call by the Minister of Education through the Chairman for the resignation of all members of University Councils, with a few exceptions, a Presidential Secretariat press release announced Tuesday. ‘Her Excellency the President is in agreement with the view expressed by the Vice Chancellors that this unprecedented action to attempt to dissolve the councils without informing the Chairpersons of the Councils has serious implications for the university system,’ the release stated. ‘Further, the Supreme Court has through case law made it very clear that the arbitrary interference in appointments especially to the University Council amounts to a violation of academic freedom and is a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution,’ the release added.
Press Release April 2, 2002 The Office of the President takes note of the surprising and disturbing call by the Minister of Education through the Chairman of the University Grants Commission for the resignation of all members of University Councils, with a few exceptions. Further we are in receipt of a letter under the hand of six Vice Chancellors addressed to the Chairman of the University Grants Commission, copied to Her Excellency the President condemning his action in calling for the resignation of the University Councils. Freedom of thought is a bedrock of a free society and is an essential aspect of humanity. The Universities as the seats of learning embody that critical questioning and reasoning so essential for a dynamic and civil society. Her Excellency the President is in agreement with the view expressed by the Vice Chancellors that this “unprecedented action to attempt to dissolve the councils without informing the Chairpersons of the Councils has serious implications for the university system. This undermines the credibility of these institutions and creates a lack of confidence in the University Community, thereby prejudicing the good work done by the UGC to initiate university reforms. Further Her Excellency also notes the statement of the Senate of the University of Colombo, reiterating their grave concern that this hasty decision of the UGC on the directions of the Minister will undermine the confidence of the entire University Community and the general public in the Council as its governing body. Further, the Supreme Court has through case law made it very clear that the arbitrary interference in appointments especially to the University Council amounts to violation of academic freedom and is a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Her Excellency has been emphatic that sacrificing democratic and fundamental freedoms in the name of a new political culture is unacceptable. We regret to note that many members of the Council have submitted to this coercion. This unprecedented assault on academic freedom cannot be condoned and the President has requested the Chairman UGC to submit an explanation as to this action of the Commission. Harim Peiris Presidential Spokesman
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