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.
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
- Ranil Abayasekara, University of Peradeniya
- Upul Abeyrathne, University of Ruhuna
- M. Alfred,University of Peradeniya
- Liyanage Amarakeerthi, University of Peradeniya
- Jayantha Amarasinghe, University of Ruhuna
- Harini Amarasooriya, Open University of Sri Lanka
- Udeni Appuhamilage, University of Peradeniya
- K. K. I. U. Arunakumara, University of Ruhuna
- O. G. Dayarathna Banda, University of Peradeniya
- T.M.Wijekoon Banda, University of Ruhuna
- H. M. N. Bandara, University of Peradeniya
- Nilanthi Bandara, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- Vajira P. Bulugahapitiya, University of Ruhuna
- Noel Dias, University of Colombo
- Suresh de Me, University of Peradeniya
- Sampath Deegalla, University of Peradeniya
- Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, University of Colombo
- D G Dharmarathne, University of Sabaragamuwa
- Priyan Dias, University of Moratuwa
- Ananda Edirisuriya, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- A. Ekanayake, University of Peradeniya
- Lesly Ekanayake, University of Moratuwa
- Manil Fonseka, University of Peradeniya
- Primal Fernando, University of Peradeniya
- Lakshman Galagedara, University of Peradeniya
- J. R. Gamage, University of Moratuwa
- Hans Gray, University of Moratuwa
- Suranjith Gunasekera, University of Ruhuna
- Chandika Gunasinghe, University of Ruhuna
- Jagath Gunatilake, University of Peradeniya
- Ranil D. Guneratne, University of Colombo
- Camena Guneratne, Open University of Sri Lanka
- Dileni Gunewardena, University of Peradeniya
- K Guruparan, University of Jaffna
- Rangika Halwatura, University of Moratuwa
- K. R. B. Herath, University of Peradeniya
- S. R. Herath, University of Peradeniya
- Sanath Hettiarachchi, University of Ruhuna
- Shyamani Hettiarachchi, University of Kelaniya
- Rohini Hewamanna, University of Colombo
- C.S. Hewawasam University of Peradeniya,
- M. I. M. Ishak, University of Peradeniya
- Nilmini Jayasena, University of Peradeniya
- Ruwan Jayasinghe, University of Peradeniya
- Gehan Jayasuriya, University of Peradeniya
- Barana Jayawardana, University of Peradeniya
- Sanath Jayawardana, University of Moratuwa
- Janaki Jayawardena, University of Colombo
- Bimali Jayawardene, University of Kelaniya
- Romaine Jayewardene, University of Colombo
- J. M. A. Jayawickrama, University of Peradeniya
- Senarathne Kariyawasam, University of Peradeniya
- Danesh Karunanayake, University of Peradeniya
- Parakrama Karunaratne, University of Peradeniya
- Shiromi Karunaratne, University of Moratuwa
- Dulakshi Karunasinghe, University of Peradeniya
- Gamini Keerawella, University of Peradeniya
- Manikya Kodithuwakku, Open University of Sri Lanka
- S. R. Kodituwakku, University of Peradeniya
- E.C. Kulasekere, , University of Moratuwa
- L. C. Kurukulasuriya, University of Peradeniya
- Hemantha Kumara, University of Ruhuna
- Amal Kumarage, University of Moratuwa
- Shamala Kumar, University of Peradeniya
- A. K. Jeewaka Saman Kumara, University of Peradeniya
- Darshana Liyanage, University of Ruhuna
- Rita Liyanage, University of Peradeniya
- Terrence Madhujith, University of Perdeniya
- R. Maheswaran, University of Peradeniya
- V. Maheswaran, University of Peradeniya
- Kumara Mahipala MBP, University of Peradeniya
- Sanjeeva Maithripala, University of Peradeniya
- T. Manoharan,University of Peradeniya
- Sudesh Mantilake, University of Peradeniya
- A. L. M. Mauroof, University of Peradeniya
- Mahim Mendis, Open Univeristy of Sri Lanka
- Madhava Meegaskumbura, University of Peradeniya
- R. Meegaskubura, University of Peradeniya
- Suyama Meegaskumbura, University of Peradeniya
- A.M. Navaratne Bandara, University of Peradeniya
- Nilhan Niles, University of Moratuwa
- Lakshman Nugapitiya, University of Peradeniya
- Rathnamali Palamakumbura, University of Peradeniya
- Ranjith W. Pallegama, University of Peradeniya
- Upali Pannilage, University of Ruhuna
- Indunil Pathirana, University of Ruhuna
- K. P. P. Pathirana, University of Peradeniya
- Susantha Pathirana, University of Peradeniya
- Sriyani Peiris, University of Peradeniya
- Sujeeva Sebastian Pereira, University of Sri Jayawardhanapura
- Asoka Perera, University of Moratuwa
- Kaushalya Perera, University of Kelaniya
- K.E.D. Perera, University of Ruhuna
- Niranjala Perera, Wayamba University
- Amalka Pinidiyaarachchi, University of Peradeniya
- I.R. Priyantha, University of Ruhuna
- Rupika Subashini Rajakaruna, University of Peradeniya
- Dharma Rajapaksha, University of Ruhuna
- Aruna Rajapakse, University of Peradeniya
- Sanath Rajapakse, University of Peradeniya
- Chinthana Rajapakshe, University of Moratuwa
- Shamila Ahamed Rajaratne, University of Peradeniya
- Manoj Ranaweera, University of Moratuwa
- Romola Rassool, University of Kelaniya
- Nimal Ratnayake, University of Peradeniya
- Rohana Ratnayake, Open University of Sri Lanka
- Asanga Ratnaweera, University of Peradeniya
- Athulasiri Kumara Samarakoon, Open Univeristy of Sri Lanka
- Dinesha Samararatne, University of Colombo
- K. Samarasinghe, University of Peradeniya
- Gameela Samarasinghe, University of Colombo
- Manjula Sandirigama, University of Peradeniya
- A.B . Shanthasiri, University of Ruhuna
- I. M. S. Sathyaprasad, University of Peradeniya
- V. N. Seneviratne, University of Peradeniya
- Janeeka de Silva, University of Ruhuna
- Kalinga Tudor Silva, University of Peradeniya
- M. Sitralega, Eastern University
- M A M Sitheeque, University of Peradeniya
- Sumathy Sivamohan, University of Peradeniya
- Upul Sonnadara, University of Colombo
- B.M Sumanaratne, University of Ruhuna
- V. Tharmathasan, University of Peradeniya
- R.O. Thattil, University of Peradeniya
- Vasanthi Thevanasam, University of Peradeniya
- S. Thiruchelvam, University of Peradeniya
- K.K.S Udayakantha, University of Ruhuna
- Dulan Wathugala, University of Colombo
- Ruvan Weerasinghe, University of Colombo
- Shahani Markus Weerawarana, University of Moratuwa
- Carmen Wickramagamage, University of Peradeniya
- Chandima Wickramasinghe, University of Peradeniya
- P. Wijekoon, University of Peradeniya
- A. W. Wijeratne, Sabaragamuwa University
- Nima Wijesiri, University of Peradeniya
- K.M.S. Wimalasiri, University of Peradeniya
- B. Dileepa Witharana, Open University of Sri Lanka
