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FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS

President: Dr. N.R. Dewasiri, Department of History, University of Colombo, Colombo 03 Tele: 0718016200 /E-mail: nrdewasiri@gmail.com April 16, 2012 Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka Temple Trees Galle Road Colombo-3.

Reg. No. 8151

Your Excellency, SAVING HIGHER EDUCATION OF SRI LANKA The accolades that Sri Lanka has received since independence for its impressive social indicators has been the result of the establishment and protection of two basic institutions: universal free health and free education services. These two sectors have enabled Sri Lanka to meet two fundamental rights of its citizens without discrimination; many of the putative developed countries are still trying to achieve these despite their wealth. Hence this is an achievement of great distinction and one that needs to be protected at all costs. However, it is with great dismay, that we observe that the current government under your Excellencys leadership appears to be gradually letting one of these pillars of post independent Sri Lankan society: namely, free education weaken. As the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA), our intention is to draw your attention to the damage being wrought on the state funded higher education system, which constitutes an important institution within the education sector. While we are equally disturbed by the deterioration of the primary and secondary education sectors, recently epitomized by the Advanced Level examination related Z-Score fiasco, in this instance, we will focus only on the state of tertiary education. The government and the Minister of Higher Education has made quite clear its intentions of supporting non state higher educational institutes, compromising the autonomy and independence of universities and slowly but steadily paralyzing the effective functioning of the state university system. We observe the following with grave concern: Decreasing the allocation of funds for education and higher education (currently less than 2% of GDP is allocated which is far below the norm for many developing countries, and even less than that of the poorest countries in the world, or instance, sub-Saharan Africa countries. The current
Vice Presidents Rev Dambara Amila, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Ananda Jayawickrama University of Peradeniya Prof. R. Vigneswaran University of Jaffna General Secretary Dr. Terrence Madhujith University of Peradeniya Asst. Secretary Dr. Upul Abeyratne University of Ruhuna Treasurer Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy University of Colombo

President Dr. Nirmal.R.Dewasiri University of Colombo

allocation is even lesser than the allocation in the previous years)

Slashing of budgets for capital and recurrent expenditure of universities (with as high as 30% is slashed in some instances) Diverting funds meant for improving quality of tertiary education for Ministry sponsored events in violation of all accepted university procedures such as the so called leadership training conducted in military camps. A sum of Rs. 200 million was spent on the leadership training program in 2011 and the same program would be offered for the second batch of students although it is not clear if the program has been successful in achieving its objectives after spending millions of rupees which otherwise would have been spent for a more important activity. Certain funds that were managed at the university level have currently been withheld by the ministry for no obvious reasons. Facilitating the entry of private higher educational institutions through providing subsidies (again from funds allocated for improving the quality of tertiary education) such as CIMA into the university system Politicization of the entire state funded University system, which has reached alarming proportions where the Minister of Higher Education is playing an increasingly interfering role in even the most mundane of its affairs (i.e micromanagement). Further compromising the university autonomy and academic freedom through implementing circulars requiring the university academics to obtain approval from the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education prior to attending workshops, conferences, meetings etc. organized by parties other than state organizations. Creating wide-spread tension and unrest within the university student population by unfairly suppressing student activism Promoting intra-student violence by inciting certain student groups against other groups

These alarming developments cannot be reconciled with the stated intentions of the Mahinda Chinthanaya of ensuring free education and uplifting university education, even less to the vision of making Sri Lanka a knowledge hub for Asia. It is also difficult for us to imagine the Minister of Higher Education is acting arbitrarily without the consensus of the government. If, on the other hand, he is acting without the support of the Executive and the Cabinet, it reflects an even more alarming and unfortunate situation, which we are sure you wish to rectify immediately. In the interests of the country and in order to protect one of the greatest legacies of this country, free
President Dr. Nirmal.R.Dewasiri University of Colombo Vice Presidents Rev Dambara Amila, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Ananda Jayawickrama University of Peradeniya Prof. R. Vigneswaran University of Jaffna General Secretary Dr. Terrence Madhujith University of Peradeniya Asst. Secretary Dr. Upul Abeyratne University of Ruhuna Treasurer Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy University of Colombo

education, we propose the following recommendations for your kind consideration: Delineate a course of action to increase government spending on education that will reach 6% of GDP within the next 2 years. Suspend all existing higher education reform processes until a proper consultative process involving all stakeholders and the public takes place. Take immediate steps to improve the physical and human resources of the state funded University system. The immediate implementation of the remuneration step outlined in the interim proposal of 7th July 2011 with steps that should have been implemented in the 2012 budget enabling the universities to recruit and retain the best qualified academics within the university system. Prevent politicization and micromanagement of the Universities so that these institutions can thrive as autonomous institutions to catalyze development of Sri Lanka. In order to facilitate the demand outlined above the FUTA suggests that academics be considered as a special category of service personnel, based on the crucial role they have in developing the countrys human resource capability and the stringent recruitment and promotion scheme that they have to follow.

Looking forward to receiving your prompt attention to the aforesaid concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Signed Dr. Terrence Madhujith Secretary

President Dr. Nirmal.R.Dewasiri University of Colombo

Vice Presidents Rev Dambara Amila, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Ananda Jayawickrama University of Peradeniya Prof. R. Vigneswaran University of Jaffna

General Secretary Dr. Terrence Madhujith University of Peradeniya

Asst. Secretary Dr. Upul Abeyratne University of Ruhuna

Treasurer Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy University of Colombo

.
FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS

President: Dr. N.R. Dewasiri, Department of History, University of Colombo, Colombo 03 Tele: 0718016200 /E-mail: nrdewasiri@gmail.com April 18, 2012 Mr. S.B. Dissanayake Hon. Minister of Higher Education Ministry of Higher Education Ward Place Colombo 7

Reg. No. 8151

Dear Sir, TRADE UNION ACTION ON APRIL 26, 2012 Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) at its Executive Committee meeting held recently decided to stage a one day token strike as the government has failed to keep the promises and neglected the demands put forward by the FUTA. The major reasons as to why the FUTA decided upon resorting to a trade union action include following. 1. Decreasing the allocation of funds for education and higher education (currently less than 2% of GDP is allocated which is far below the norm for many developing countries, and even less than that of the poorest countries in the world, or instance, sub-Saharan Africa countries. The current allocation is even lesser than the allocation in the previous years) 2. Slashing of budgets for capital and recurrent expenditure of universities (with as high as 30% is slashed in some instances) 3. Diverting funds meant for improving quality of tertiary education for Ministry sponsored events in
President Dr. Nirmal.R.Dewasiri University of Colombo Vice Presidents Rev Dambara Amila, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Ananda Jayawickrama University of Peradeniya Prof. R. Vigneswaran University of Jaffna General Secretary Dr. Terrence Madhujith University of Peradeniya Asst. Secretary Dr. Upul Abeyratne University of Ruhuna Treasurer Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy University of Colombo

violation of all accepted university procedures such as the leadership training conducted in military camps. 4. Certain funds that were managed at the university level have currently been retained by the ministry for no obvious reasons. 5. Facilitating the entry of private higher educational institutions through providing subsidies (again from funds allocated for improving the quality of tertiary education) such as CIMA into the university system 6. Politicization of the entire state funded University system, which has reached alarming proportions where the Minister is playing an increasingly interfering role in even the most mundane of its affairs (i.e micromanagement). 7. Further compromising the university autonomy and academic freedom through implementing circulars requiring the university academics to obtain approval from the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education prior to attending workshops, conferences, meetings etc. organized by parties other than state organizations. 8. Creating wide-spread tension and unrest within the university student population by unfairly suppressing student activism 9. Promoting intra-student violence by inciting certain student groups against other groups and 10. Not implementing the salary proposal put forward by the FUTA at the time of cessation of the trade union action in July 21, 2011 and subsequently communicated via the letter to you dated January 30, 2012. These alarming developments cannot be reconciled with the stated intentions of the Mahinda Chinthanaya of ensuring free education and uplifting university education, even less to the vision of making Sri Lanka a knowledge hub for Asia. In this backdrop, the FUTA unanimously decided to pass a strong signal to the government by staging a one day token strike on April 26, 2012.

Yours sincerely,

Signed Dr. Terrence Madhujith Secretary

President Dr. Nirmal.R.Dewasiri University of Colombo

Vice Presidents Rev Dambara Amila, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Ananda Jayawickrama University of Peradeniya Prof. R. Vigneswaran University of Jaffna

General Secretary Dr. Terrence Madhujith University of Peradeniya

Asst. Secretary Dr. Upul Abeyratne University of Ruhuna

Treasurer Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy University of Colombo

President Dr. Nirmal.R.Dewasiri University of Colombo

Vice Presidents Rev Dambara Amila, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Ananda Jayawickrama University of Peradeniya Prof. R. Vigneswaran University of Jaffna

General Secretary Dr. Terrence Madhujith University of Peradeniya

Asst. Secretary Dr. Upul Abeyratne University of Ruhuna

Treasurer Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy University of Colombo