The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has revealed that 35 university lecturers, who had gone abroad on study leave from the University of Moratuwa, owed the state Rs. 51,649,961, as at 31 December 2021, due to breach of contract and bonds.

It was also revealed that the amount due from 16 lecturers, who had violated contracts and bonds for eight years, was Rs.23,190,595.

These facts were revealed when the COPE met in Parliament recently, under the chairmanship of the Prof. Charitha Herath.

The Auditor General’s reports for the years 2019 and 2020, and the current performance of the University of Moratuwa, were examined at this committee meeting.

The Vice Chancellor said that the University of Moratuwa offers only degree programmes, based primarily on Mathematics, Science, Engineering and Technology.

Students of the Medical Faculty of the University of Moratuwa are currently studying for the next two academic years but no building has been constructed for the faculty so far. The Vice Chancellor also requested that the academic staff of the Medical Faculty be provided for the third and final academic year.

He said that although it has been decided to set up a professorial unit at the Nagoda Hospital, no allocation has been received for the acquisition of the 15-acre Nagoda land in Kalutara which has been selected for the construction of the required buildings. He said that the government has instructed to obtain a bank loan for this purpose and that action is being taken accordingly.

The COPE Chairman instructed the Secretary to the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission to look into the matter and take immediate action.

The COPE chairman also said that the appointment of non-academic staff to universities at the discretion of the political authorities has become a big problem.

The Committee inquired into the fact that a company called ‘Uni Consultancy’, which operates within the University, has not yet obtained Cabinet approval and the Vice Chancellor stated that the necessary documents have been sent to the University Grants Commission. The Chairman expressed his displeasure over the delay in the process and directed that the process be expedited.

In addition, discussions were held regarding the ‘LK Domain Registry’, a company established under the University of Moratuwa. There was a lengthy discussion on the loss of ownership of this company which was registered as a company owned by the University of Moratuwa on 05.03.2004.

The COPE Chairman recommended that ‘LK Domain Registry’ be treated as a National Value Institution and that its ownership be transferred back to the University of Moratuwa.

The COPE Chairman also pointed out the importance of strengthening the legal framework of such companies affiliated to the universities and recommended to the Secretary to the Ministry to obtain Cabinet approval for ‘Uni Consultancy’ company and to submit a report on the ‘LK Domain Registry’ and ‘LEARN’ companies within three months.

The Chairman also pointed out the importance of developing a general set of guidelines for university affiliated consulting firms to cover the entire university sector.

COPE Chairman Herath commended the University Governing Body for the timely presentation of the University’s Procurement Plan, the presentation of Annual Reports to Parliament and the holding of Audit and Management Committee meetings.

Members of Parliament Rauf Hakeem, Jagath Pushpakumara, Jayantha Samaraweera, Eran Wickramaratne, Major Sudharshana Denipitiya,  Premnath C. Dolewatta and Secretary to the Ministry of Education M.N Ranasinghe, Vice Chairman of University Grants Commission Prof. Chandana Udawatte, Chairman University Grants Commission Prof. N.D. Gunawardena and a group of officials were present at the committee meeting.