An appeal against infringement of university autonomy

What is published below is an appeal signed by university academics from universities across Sri Lanka urging the government to desist from allowing various branches of the government and state to infringe upon university autonomy and academic freedom.

At the request of the signatories to the appeal it will be kept open for signatures to be collected as an indication of the desire of theuniversity academic community to preserve its autonomy and freedom.

If you share the sentiments expressed in the appeal and are willing to join the growing list of signatories, please send an e-mail to autonomy.freedom@gmail.com expressing your willingness to sign the appeal, with your name and the university you are attached to and a contact number to verify the authenticity of your participation. 

An appeal against infringement of university autonomy

The Ministry of Higher Education has issued a directive that all state universities should hire the services of Rakna Lanka Ltd for provision of security services. The undersigned of the University academic community considers that directive to be in complete contravention of the norms and conventions by which universities are expected to function. 

The letter issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education seeks to bypass standard procedures that are followed in the university system in the hiring and outsourcing of services. That process requires tenders to be called for and for a suitable company to be selected in a transparent and independent manner. The Secretary’s instruction therefore is in violation of established processes and is contrary to the underpinning principles of governance and the autonomy of academic institutions.  

Rakna Lanka is held out to be a government owned commercial security venture and has been set up under the Ministry of Defence, under the direct supervision of the Secretary to that Ministry. The website of Rakna Lanka states that only ex-servicemen are hired by the company. The website also provides a list of other state owned departments that have hired the services of Rakna Lanka.

Internationally, privatization of security has been debated on intensely owing to the sensitive nature of what is termed as “security” and how such “security” is maintained. Experiences in other parts of the world suggest that accountability should be increased in the maintenance of security, not decreased. In that light, the directive by the ministry that all security in all state universities should be handed over to one commercial enterprise owned by the state, coming under the supervision of one public officer, becomes problematic. Holding such an entity accountable to the university authorities could, predictably, become difficult.

It is important that universities retain their independence in matters of hiring and recruiting, tailored to suit the individual needs of each university.  The authorities should abide by just and fair procedure, engage in dialogue and consultation with the University community, and give due recognition to the positions occupied by University authorities, the Vice Chancellors and others in these matters. It is of the utmost importance that university autonomy is preserved under such circumstances. 

   
We are also concerned about the increasing infringement of university autonomy in matters pertaining to academic programmes and in decision making by the state. We are especially concerned about the role the military establishment is increasingly  playing   in the administrative and academic spheres of the universities, which are a place of free exchange of ideas, critical thinking, and innovation. We of course have in mind the leadership training programme conducted by the Military to university entrants,  which, arbitrarily  imposed on all concerned, reduced the authority of the academic community within its own area of purview. This last development of encroachment via hiring procedure by the Ministry of Defence is seen as a further elaboration of this trend of increasing militarization of the universities.

As an academic community we are willing and able to cooperate effectively with the authorities in these and other issues facing university administration and academic quality.  We urge the government to respect its obligations toward the academic community and the universities with respect to its written and unwritten contract with the university system.

Signed 

1. Ranil Abayasekara, University of Peradeniya
2. Upul Abeyrathne, University of Ruhuna
3. M. Alfred,University of Peradeniya
4. Liyanage Amarakeerthi, University of Peradeniya
5. Jayantha Amarasinghe, University of Ruhuna
6. Harini Amarasooriya, Open University of Sri Lanka
7. Udeni Appuhamilage, University of Peradeniya
8. K. K. I. U. Arunakumara, University of Ruhuna
9. O. G. Dayarathna Banda, University of Peradeniya
10. T.M.Wijekoon Banda, University of Ruhuna
11. H. M. N. Bandara, University of Peradeniya
12. Nilanthi Bandara, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
13. Vajira P. Bulugahapitiya, University of Ruhuna
14. Noel Dias, University of Colombo
15. Suresh de Me, University of Peradeniya 
16. Sampath Deegalla, University of Peradeniya
17. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, University of Colombo
18. D G Dharmarathne, University of Sabaragamuwa
19. Priyan Dias, University of Moratuwa
20. Ananda Edirisuriya, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
21. A. Ekanayake, University of Peradeniya
22. Lesly Ekanayake, University of Moratuwa
23. Manil Fonseka, University of Peradeniya
24. Primal Fernando, University of Peradeniya
25. Lakshman Galagedara, University of Peradeniya
26. J. R. Gamage, University of Moratuwa
27. Hans Gray, University of Moratuwa
28. Suranjith Gunasekera, University of Ruhuna
29. Chandika Gunasinghe, University of Ruhuna
30. Jagath  Gunatilake, University of Peradeniya
31. Ranil D. Guneratne, University of Colombo
32. Camena Guneratne, Open University of Sri Lanka
33. Dileni Gunewardena, University of Peradeniya
34. K Guruparan, University of Jaffna
35. Rangika Halwatura, University of Moratuwa
36. K. R. B. Herath, University of Peradeniya
37. S. R. Herath, University of Peradeniya
38. Sanath Hettiarachchi, University of Ruhuna
39. Shyamani Hettiarachchi, University of Kelaniya
40. Rohini Hewamanna, University of Colombo
41. C.S. Hewawasam University of Peradeniya,
42. M. I. M. Ishak, University of Peradeniya
43. Nilmini Jayasena, University of Peradeniya
44. Ruwan Jayasinghe, University of Peradeniya
45. Gehan Jayasuriya, University of Peradeniya
46. Barana Jayawardana, University of Peradeniya
47. Sanath Jayawardana, University of Moratuwa
48. Janaki Jayawardena, University of Colombo
49. Bimali Jayawardene, University of Kelaniya
50. Romaine Jayewardene, University of Colombo
51. J. M. A. Jayawickrama, University of Peradeniya
52. Senarathne Kariyawasam, University of Peradeniya
53. Danesh Karunanayake, University of Peradeniya
54. Parakrama Karunaratne, University of Peradeniya
55. Shiromi Karunaratne, University of Moratuwa
56. Dulakshi Karunasinghe, University of Peradeniya
57. Gamini Keerawella, University of Peradeniya
58. Manikya Kodithuwakku, Open University of Sri Lanka
59. S. R. Kodituwakku, University of Peradeniya
60. E.C. Kulasekere, , University of Moratuwa
61. L. C. Kurukulasuriya, University of Peradeniya
62. Hemantha Kumara, University of Ruhuna
63. Amal Kumarage, University of Moratuwa
64. Shamala Kumar, University of Peradeniya
65. A. K. Jeewaka Saman Kumara, University of Peradeniya
66. Darshana Liyanage, University of Ruhuna
67. Rita Liyanage, University of Peradeniya
68. Terrence Madhujith, University of Perdeniya
69. R. Maheswaran, University of Peradeniya
70. V. Maheswaran, University of Peradeniya
71. Kumara Mahipala MBP, University of Peradeniya
72. Sanjeeva Maithripala, University of Peradeniya
73. T. Manoharan,University of Peradeniya
74. Sudesh Mantilake, University of Peradeniya
75. A. L. M. Mauroof, University of Peradeniya
76. Mahim Mendis, Open Univeristy of Sri Lanka
77. Madhava Meegaskumbura, University of Peradeniya
78. R. Meegaskubura, University of Peradeniya
79. Suyama Meegaskumbura, University of Peradeniya
80. A.M. Navaratne Bandara, University of Peradeniya
81. Nilhan Niles, University of Moratuwa
82. Lakshman Nugapitiya, University of Peradeniya
83. Rathnamali Palamakumbura, University of Peradeniya
84. Ranjith W. Pallegama, University of Peradeniya
85. Upali Pannilage, University of Ruhuna
86. Indunil Pathirana, University of Ruhuna
87. K. P. P. Pathirana, University of Peradeniya
88. Susantha Pathirana, University of Peradeniya
89. Sriyani Peiris, University of Peradeniya
90. Sujeeva Sebastian Pereira, University of Sri Jayawardhanapura
91. Asoka Perera, University of Moratuwa
92. Kaushalya Perera, University of Kelaniya
93. K.E.D. Perera, University of Ruhuna
94. Niranjala Perera, Wayamba University
95. Amalka Pinidiyaarachchi, University of Peradeniya
96. I.R. Priyantha, University of Ruhuna
97. Rupika Subashini Rajakaruna, University of Peradeniya
98. Dharma Rajapaksha, University of Ruhuna
99. Aruna Rajapakse, University of Peradeniya
100. Sanath Rajapakse, University of Peradeniya
101. Chinthana Rajapakshe, University of Moratuwa
102. Shamila Ahamed Rajaratne, University of Peradeniya
103. Manoj Ranaweera, University of Moratuwa
104. Romola Rassool, University of Kelaniya
105. Nimal Ratnayake,  University of Peradeniya
106. Rohana Ratnayake, Open University of Sri Lanka
107. Asanga Ratnaweera, University of Peradeniya
108. Athulasiri Kumara Samarakoon, Open Univeristy of Sri Lanka
109. Dinesha Samararatne, University of Colombo
110. K. Samarasinghe, University of Peradeniya
111. Gameela Samarasinghe, University of Colombo
112. Manjula Sandirigama, University of Peradeniya
113. A.B . Shanthasiri, University of Ruhuna 
114. I. M. S. Sathyaprasad, University of Peradeniya
115. V. N. Seneviratne, University of Peradeniya
116. Janeeka de Silva, University of Ruhuna
117. Kalinga Tudor Silva, University of Peradeniya
118. M. Sitralega, Eastern University
119. M A M Sitheeque, University of Peradeniya
120. Sumathy Sivamohan, University of Peradeniya
121. Upul Sonnadara, University of Colombo
122. B.M Sumanaratne, University of Ruhuna
123. V. Tharmathasan, University of Peradeniya
124. R.O. Thattil, University of Peradeniya
125. Vasanthi Thevanasam, University of Peradeniya
126. S. Thiruchelvam, University of Peradeniya
127. K.K.S Udayakantha, University of Ruhuna
128. Dulan Wathugala, University of Colombo
129. Ruvan Weerasinghe, University of Colombo
130. Shahani Markus Weerawarana, University of Moratuwa
131. Carmen Wickramagamage, University of Peradeniya
132. Chandima Wickramasinghe, University of Peradeniya
133. P. Wijekoon, University of Peradeniya
134. A. W. Wijeratne, Sabaragamuwa University
135. Nima Wijesiri, University of Peradeniya
136. K.M.S. Wimalasiri, University of Peradeniya
137. B. Dileepa Witharana, Open University of Sri Lanka