DIG Vaas rebukes John Seneviratne in filth!
Thursday, 22 January 2015Following media reports that DIG Vaas Gunawardena is going to make a confession, former minister John Seneviratne went to meet him at Welikada Prison a few days ago, taking with him a message from a top personality in the previous regime. Seneviratne asked Vaas to understand the situation and keep silent.
Losing his temper badly over the request, Vaas cried out, using filthy words, “Have you remembered me only now? …. go and that it was because of them that I am in remand prison for more than a year. I will go to the gallows after sending them all to the gallows first.” This made Seneviratne beating a hasty retreat.
According to our sources, Vaas is to first reveal a gold deal connected to the former first lady and a cache of underworld firearms given to Namal Rajapaksa. Very reliable sources say that former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is implicated in more than 20 murders which are mentioned in the statements given by Vaas to the CID.
Reforms In Sri Lankan Universities
Aboobacker Rameez
It is heartening to see a suitably qualified person being appointed as the Minister of Education. It is even more heartening to see the Minister, Prof. Rajiva Wijesingha, attempting to introduce much needed reforms to the universities.
There are two key important factors, which I think have contributed to the total collapse of system in the universities in Sri Lanka: 1) the process involved in the selection of Council Members; and 2) the process involved in the selection of Vice Chancellors. It is encouraging to note that the new Minister’s reform proposals have taken note of these factors. This article seeks to propose suggestions on how the system in the university could be made immune to political meddling and other influences, so that there will be good governance and the autonomy and integrity of universities intact.
Selection of Council Members
In the past, politicians including the Higher Education Minister, and respective Vice Chancellors of universities played a pivotal role in the selection process of council members. They were selected not purely based on their educational and professional qualifications, but based on their political affiliation with politicians or to their political parties. Vice Chancellors also exploited the opportunity, based on their influence with the subject Minister, in recommending to the UGC/HEM a list of names to be selected to the council. Hence, the council of some universities was constituted with individuals with questionable credentials. I know of a University Council where a brother of a former Higher Education Minister and a relative of the Vice Chancellor were appointed as members of the council. These members are provided personal transportation or their travelling expenses reimbursed; they are also provided with lodging, honorarium and other sitting allowances. These perks and privileges functioned prompting them to play a passive role in the councils, simply giving consent to the decision taken by the Vice Chancellors. It is true that Councils are deemed as mere rubber stamps in the university sector.Read More