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GMOA Executive Committee opposes KNDU Bill

Published

5 years ago

2021/07/30

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Government Medical Officers’ Association’s (GMOA) Executive Committee had unanimously decided that the Kotelawala National Defence University bill would have a disastrous impact on education and social stability, GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said yesterday.

Dr. Fernando told The Island that the GMOA had also prepared a report on the KNDU highlighting the flaws in the Bill.

“We have no problem with a military university and the current act that governs the KDU is enough for that. There is no need for a university that operates outside the University Act,” Dr. Fernando said.

The report said that in the 2019 policy document of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, there was a promise to expand state universities and to develop their facilities. Those steps were proposed because the President admitted the importance of strengthening state university system and the need for students to enjoy academic freedom.

“However, this bill proposes the creation of a university outside this existing system. An institution that is not regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC). We fear that this will be the beginning of a series of institutions outside the purview of the UGC,” the GMOA report says.

The KNDU bill will also degrade the quality of Sri Lankan degrees, the GMOA’s report says, adding that the members of the current administration opposed the KNDU proposed by the yahapalana government and the current bill is a carbon copy of the previous one.

“All the establishments under the UGC are administered under a national policy. To enter a university one must pass the GCE AL examination and get a stated Z score. This score determines what course one can offer. However, we do not know under what criteria that students will be taken into KDU, under the proposed act. This is important because the new act opens the doors of the university to others outside those of the defence establishment,” the GMOA said.

The GMOA added that the governing body of the KDU, as proposed by the act, comprises nine members. Out of that, five are military officers in active duty.

“They are the Chief of Defence Staff, Army Commander, Navy Commander and Air Force Commander. Moreover, the act proposes that the Vice Chancellor should also be a senior Army Officer. Meanwhile, two others are Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and an Additional Secretary to the Ministry. Thus seven out of nine are associated with the Defence Ministry and five are direct members of the military. There are only two non- military people,” he said.

The GMOA has said in its report that the quorum of the governing body is only five and therefore, decisions can be taken by the military officers. “This is not the governance structure of an institution that plans to offer degrees to civilians.

“This body also decides on the method of recruitment, setting courses, salaries of teachers, establishment and repealing of positions, creating links with other public and private institutions. They are also given independent monetary powers. This is the establishment of an independent body with self-determination.”

The KNDU will also be able to attract the best teachers from state universities. This will lead to shortages of lecturers in state universities and that will lead to a drop of quality in these institutions, the doctors’ union has said.

“However, this university will also be able to secure government funding outside allocations to the Ministry of Defence. This means that a chunk of money that would have gone to government education will be channeled into a private institution outside the purview of the UGC.”

All these factors will lead to unrest in other universities, which in turn would affect the smooth functioning of those establishments. “For example medical students lost a year because they boycotted classes opposing SAITM, the GMOA has said, arguing that a graduate from a military university will be conditioned to follow orders from above. However, only a scholar who was able to think independently could contribute to the development of the country.

“Civilian students who join the KNDU will not be able to talk or negotiate with the university administration. Let’s assume that they are unhappy with the service provided by the university, can the students gather, organize and win their rights? The answer is a resounding no. The students can’t even run a student council, which is a hallmark of any university.”

Article 07 of the bill states that if the Minister of Defence feels that anything that happens in the university is a threat to national security or affects the functioning of the university, he can order the governing body to take action.

“So, students have to submit to any decision taken in the name of ‘national security. This is ludicrous.”

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Sri Lankan singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke passes away at the age of 68

Published

8 hours ago

2026/07/10

Priyan

(Pic facebook)

It has been reported quoting family sources that veteran singer Mariazelle Goonetilleke has passed away this morning (10) at the age of 68

She had been receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

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Sallay’s wife further complains to HRC over continuing violation of husband’s FRs by CID

Published

11 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay has lodged a further complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), alleging that her husband’s fundamental rights continue to be violated as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers prevent him from having confidential consultations with his lawyer while he is under detention at the National Hospital.

In a letter addressed to the HRCSL Chairman on Thursday, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay has said the latest complaint was filed in relation to an earlier complaint concerning the detention and treatment of her husband.

Full text of the letter: I, Mrs. S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, respectfully write to lodge this further complaint in relation to my earlier complaint bearing reference H RC-HO-1 103-26, concerning the detention and treatment of my husband, Retired Major General Suresh Sallay.

I wish to bring to the attention of the Commission a further serious violation of his fundamental rights that occurred on 08 July 2026 during a consultation between my husband and his Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Asith Siriwardena, while my husband remains under detention and is receiving treatment at the National Hospital.

I am informed by his Counsel that he is presently permitted to consult with my husband only once a week for a period of approximately twenty minutes. During the consultation held on 08 July 2026, officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stationed at the Cardiac Coronary Care Unit of the National Hospital informed Counsel that they had received instructions from higher authorities that my husband should not be permitted to meet with his

legal counsel in private. Consequently, the officers remained present throughout the consultation and refused to permit a confidential lawyer-client meeting.

This conduct constitutes a grave infringement of my husband’s fundamental right to communicate privately and confidentially with his legal counsel. Confidential communication between an accused or detainee and his lawyer is an indispensable safeguard of the right to legal representation, the right to prepare his defence, and the right to a fair trial. The denial of confidential legal consultations undermines these fundamental protections guaranteed under the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the applicable provisions governing persons detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

The confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and client is also a well-recognized principle under international human rights law and forms an essential safeguard against arbitrary detention, coercion, and unfair legal proceedings.

In view of the foregoing, I respectfully request the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to urgently intervene and take all necessary steps within its statutory mandate to:

1. Ensure that my husband is afforded immediate and unrestricted confidential access to his legal counsel without the presence or supervision of law enforcement officers;

2. Inquire into the instructions allegedly issued by higher authorities requiring CID officers to remain present during lawyer-client consultations;

3. Direct the relevant authorities to cease any practice that interferes with confidential legal consultations; and

4. Take such further action as the Commission considers appropriate to safeguard my husband’s constitutional and human rights.

This complaint is made as a further complaint to Complaint No. H RC-HO-1103-26, and I respectfully request that it be placed on the same file and considered together with my previous complaints.

I respectfully seek the Commission’s urgent intervention in this matter.

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SC upholds Commercial HC ruling that Weerawansa violated intellectual property rights of JVP

Published

11 hours ago

2026/07/10

Thilina Walpola

The Supreme Court yesterday (9) upheld a Colombo Commercial High Court order directing former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to pay Rs. 1 million in damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva for violating intellectual property rights.

A three-member Supreme Court bench dismissed in its entirety an appeal filed by Weerawansa challenging the earlier Commercial High Court ruling.

The case was instituted by Silva, who alleged that Weerawansa had violated provisions of the Intellectual Property Act by publishing his book “Neththa Wenuwata Aththa” (“Truth Instead of Lies”), which contained the JVP’s political ideology and official party documents without authorisation.

The Supreme Court also affirmed the order restraining the publication and distribution of the book in its existing form. However, the court ruled that the book could be republished if the 60-page section identified as infringing intellectual property rights was removed.