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Top academic calls for punitive measures against those abusing scholarships offered to govt.

Published

1 year ago

2025/03/24

Thilina Walpola

Prof. E.A. Weerasinghe addressing the gathering at ‘Jasmine’ hall, BMICH

JaGAAS lifetime awards 2025:

Vice Chancellor of the NSBM Green University, Prof. E. A. Weerasinghe, said that the government should take punitive measures against those chosen for foreign scholarships in case they violated bond conditions.

Tougher action was required to discourage public servants and academics from brazenly violating the trust placed on them, the top administrator said yesterday (23), in a brief interview with The Island after receiving Japanese Graduates’ Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (JaGAAS) lifetime awards 2025 at the BMICH on March 21. Prof. Weerasinghe received the award for exemplifying leadership and entrepreneurship in human capital development in higher education.

The other recipients were: Ms Baba Shigeko, Ito Yoshiaki, Koga Michio, Mikasa Jitsuo, Ogawa Kiyoko, Jagath Chandana Ramanayake, emeritus Prof. Yamada Yoshiaki, Prof. N.S. Cooray, Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, retired IGP Chandra Fernando, Merrick Gooneratne, Dr. Nishantha Nanayakkara, Dr. OP.G. Rohan Pallewatta, Prof. Piyadasa Ratnayake, Ananda Shelton Thenuwara, Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya and Prof. E.A. Weerasinghe.

They received the coveted JaGAAS lifetime awards from Japanese Ambassador in Colombo Akio Isomata who, in his brief address, declared their dedication would inspire more people to pursue similar opportunities for study, collaboration and innovation.

Responding to The Island queries, Prof. Weerasinghe found fault with successive governments for failing to deal with wrongdoers. Alleging that academics were among the worst culprits, Prof. Weerasinghe said that along with him three others – a researcher with the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board and two University lecturers were chosen jointly by the governments of Japan and Sri Lanka. “We proceeded to Japan in 1990 and having obtained a doctorate in economics from Osaka City University I returned home in 1997. My colleagues decided against doing so. The researcher stayed in Japan while the remaining two migrated to Australia.”

Prof. Weerasinghe said that his former colleagues, now in Australia, once sought the opportunity to join the University. But they were told not to expect opportunities in the motherland after having betrayed the trust the country placed on them.

Prof. Weerasinghe said that though he could have easily migrated to New Zealand with his wife and two children, they decided to come back home. At the time Weerasinghe had received a Japanese scholarship he was serving the University of Sri Jayewardenapura as an assistant lecturer. “In terms of the bond conditions, I served the University for a period of seven years,” Prof. Weerasinghe said, adding that he never once regretted the decision to pursue a career here.

Recipients of JaGAAS lifetime awards

At the end of his sabbatical leave, Prof. Weerasinghe was offered the opportunity to serve as the Director General (DG) of the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) in 2005. Prof. Weerasinghe emphasized that the NIBM had been in a much deteriorated state and restoration of the public faith in the Institution seemed a herculean task. “The University released me without pay,” a smiling Prof. Weerasinghe said, recalling his efforts to expand NIBM to other major towns, including Galle, Matara and Kandy, over the years.

The academic emphasised that in spite of the raging war in the Northern and Eastern regions and occasional terrorist attacks in the South the government sustained the NIBM. Sometime after the conclusion of the conflict in 2009, Prof. Weerasinghe, in his capacity as the DG, NIBM has proposed transforming the institute to a fully-fledged University. “Some were skeptical about my proposal. But, I pushed hard and finally managed to convince the powers that be that NIBM could be the foundation for a fully-fledged University,” Prof. Weerasinghe said.

Prof. Weerasinghe paid a glowing tribute to the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) for providing the wherewithal to launch the project in 2013. The BoC provided a staggering Rs 10 bn on a Treasury guarantee that made it possible for us to establish NSBM Green University in 2016, Prof. Weerasinghe said, declaring that his team ensured that the loan was paid on time. “There had never been an issue regarding the repayment of the loan and today we are a fully self-financed, state-of-the-art international-level University eyeing further expansion.’’

VC Weerasinghe said that recently they finalised a Rs 7.3 bn loan with the BoC in support of further expansion. Asked to explain the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic and the subsequent unprecedented economic crisis that compelled the government to declare bankruptcy in early 2022, Prof. Weerasinghe said that they received the maximum backing of the people who had faith in the University.

Emphasising the responsibility on the part of the government whoever is in power to ensure stability, Prof. Weerasinghe said that during the first phase of the project he had to work with 12 Ministers. The VC didn’t mince his words when he pointed out unnecessary difficulties caused by political appointments over the years. It would be easy to cause chaos, disrupt systems and undermine institutions that were managed without being a burden to the Treasury, Prof. Weerasinghe said. However, restoring public faith in such institutions would be extremely difficult, the Japanese scholar mentioned.

“NSBM Green University belongs to the government. Therefore, the University belongs to the people. Primary difference is we do not depend on government funds at all,” Prof. Weerasinghe said. According to him the University produced over 20,000 graduates and at the moment over 13,000 students were at five faculties, namely business, computing, engineering, science and postgraduate studies. “We have over 70 degree programmes to suit students,” Prof. Weerasinghe said, underscoring the pivotal importance of the government recognizing the contribution made by the University.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

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Latest News

Electricity tariffs to be increased from 1st April

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/30

Priyan

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has granted approval to increase electricity tariffs with effect from 1st April .

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) requested a 13.56% electricity tariff revision for the second quarter of this year.

The revision announced by the PUCSL for domestic consumers:

0–30 units category, electricity tariffs will rise by 4.3%,

31–60 units category, tariffs will rise by 6.9%,

61–90 units category, tariffs will rise by 6.9%,

91–120 units category, tariffs will rise by 7.2%,

Above 180 units, electricity tariffs will rise by 25.3%

The PUCSL has decided not to increase electricity tariffs for religious and charitable institutions that consume below 180 units monthly and a 9.6% increase for institutions that consume above 180 units.

Ectricity tariffs for the general and household consumer categories has been increased by 8%, while the electricity tariff increase for the industrial sector is 8.7%, the increase in tariff for government institutions is 14.4%.

News

A QR code system to be introduced for agricultural lands and other sectors requiring fuel

Published

17 hours ago

2026/03/30

Priyan

It was decided at the committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods to appoint five officials from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to cover all ministries in order to examine fuel-related issues and undertake the necessary interventions.

It was further discussed that the responsibility of these officials would be to examine fuel-related issues arising in institutions under each ministry and to intervene in providing solutions by maintaining coordination with the Corporation.

These matters were discussed at a meeting of the committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods, chaired by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake held on Friday (27) at the Presidential Secretariat.

It was also noted, with particular attention, that requests have been made by industrialists indicating that the current fuel quota allocated to vehicles for the distribution of their products across the country is insufficient. It was further discussed that, if these concerns are not addressed, there is a likelihood of an increase in the prices of goods, which could in turn cause significant hardship to the public during the festive season.

The committee also discussed the issuance of fuel for the distribution of essential food items by state and private institutions, including supermarkets such as Sathosa, wholesale importers, tourism-related service providers, hotels and other service-providing organisations.

Accordingly, it was discussed that requests for fuel quotas submitted by these institutions should be carefully considered and prompt action taken as necessary and that such requests should be forwarded to the Ministry of Energy through the relevant ministries.

Attention was also drawn to the need for the swift implementation of a QR code system for the issuance of fuel to other sectors, including agriculture and the fisheries industry, based on letters issued on the recommendations of the relevant government officials, including agricultural research officers, instead of the previous method of direct fuel allocation.

Minister Bimal Rathnayake emphasised the need to ensure a continuous and properly managed fuel supply, with particular focus on providing goods to the public without shortages and preventing excessive price increases during the forthcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year season.

The discussion was attended by a group of government officials, including Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister of Power Arkam Ilyas, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Kapila Janaka Bandara and Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, D. J. Rajakaruna.

News

Inquiry into female employee’s complaint: Retired HC Judge’s recommendations ignored

Published

20 hours ago

2026/03/30

Thilina Walpola

Speaker Wickramaratne receiving the report from retired HC Judge Alahapperuma. Secretary General of Parliament Rohanadeera stands next to the Speaker (file photo)

Parliament:

… sexual harassment claims dismissed

Recommendations made by retired High Court Judge Ms. Sujatha Alahapperuma, following an inquiry into claims by a female employee of the Department of Information Systems and Management of Parliament, regarding sexual harassment, denial of due salary increments and other forms of harassment, were yet to be implemented, sources familiar with the investigation said.

The retired HC Judge handed over the report to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne on 24 November, 2025. Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera was also present on that occasion.

The retired judge has recommended that administrative decisions be taken expeditiously to grant her salary increments due for 2024 and 2025, reevaluation of all employees attached to the Department of Information Systems and Management and keep them under close scrutiny and strengthening of the ‘Helpdesk’ to meet the requirements.

Sources said that none of the recommendations have been implemented and the concerned employee in spite of still being the Senior Helpdesk coordinator remained attached to the Supplies and Services Office. She had been ordered to report to the Supplies and Services Office in January 2025 following a continuing dispute with the top management of the Department of Information Systems and Management.

Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee on 25.07.2025 decided to conduct an external investigation into the issue after the employee refused to accept the outcome of the internal inquiry conducted in the wake of SJB lawmaker Mujibur Rahman raising the issue in Parliament.

The retired judge has emphasised the urgent need to take tangible measures to address administrative issues with a view to enhance discipline and human resources management among other issues.

However, the retired judge has declared that the complainant or any other female employee attached to the of Department of Information Systems and Management hadn’t been subjected to any form of sexual harassment as alleged.

The retired judge further asserted that the complainant had been prejudicially treated by two interview boards when she appeared before them seeking posts of Database Administrator and Parliament Officer.

The retired judge has also asserted that the Supplies and Services Office where the complaint continued to serve even now was not suitable and not in line with her qualifications. Some of those who had appeared before the retired judge during the inquiry claimed that was a temporary transfer. However, the report dismissed that claim declaring that transfer appeared to have been done outside acceptable procedure and her increments stopped without giving any justifiable reason.

The retired judge has stated that for want of proper procedures and systems, the administration seems to be in turmoil.

By Shamindra Ferdinando