President-Prime Minister clash over appointment of UGC Chairman

Political sources say that there is a conflict of opinion between Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the appointment of the new University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman.

According to the sources, the former chairman of the University Grants Commission, Prof. Sampath Amaratunga, had initially decided to continue in that position after an agreement between the President and the Prime Minister.

But some unions within the UGC have opposed the changes and developments introduced by the former chairman. The reason for this is the loss of those who previously benefited from the new system that the chairman is going to introduce

After that, the President’s office announced that the former chairman would resign immediately, but Prime Minister Amarasuriya said that Professor Sampath Amaratunga can continue in his position.

A day later, the President’s Office asked the former Chairman of the University Grants Commission to resign from that position with immediate effect. After that, senior professor Kapila Seneviratne was appointed to the position.