September 17, Colombo (LNW): The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) says a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr Harini Amarasuriya ended without agreement on several pressing problems confronting Sri Lanka’s state universities.
FUTA representatives met Dr Amarasuriya on 16 September at the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya, Battaramulla, for discussions that continued until around 10 p.m.
FUTA President Prof Ruchika Fernando said the talks centred on three major concerns: delays in admitting new students, the increasing length of time undergraduates spend in the university system and a continuing shortage of academic staff.
Despite the extended discussions, he said the meeting did not produce any concrete solution.
Prof Fernando said FUTA had previously raised the same concerns with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Following those discussions, the University Grants Commission (UGC), together with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors, had reportedly drawn up proposals aimed at speeding up university admissions.
He said FUTA was particularly concerned to learn that the proposals had apparently not yet reached the Presidential Secretariat, despite the association having been seeking action on them for almost a year.
FUTA Secretary Senior Lecturer Charudaththe Illangasinghe said academics from universities across the country took part in the latest meeting because of the seriousness of the situation.
He claimed, however, that the Government had yet to demonstrate a comparable sense of urgency in tackling the problems affecting higher education.
Illangasinghe said FUTA would now assess the outcome of the discussions before determining its next steps, leaving open the possibility of further action if progress is not made.
