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50% of uni. lecturer posts, vacant

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The National Strategic Plan prepared by the University of Jayawardenepura to modernize the entire public university system presented to COPE.

Secretary to the Ministry of Education instructed to appoint a task force within two weeks and give a report in this regard.

COPE disclose that there are 50% of university lecturer vacancies.

The University of Sri Jayewardenepura was called before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) which met on Aug. 22 under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Member of Parliament.

According to a recommendation given by COPE at the Committee meeting held on March 24th, 2023, the National Strategic Plan prepared by University of Sri Jayewardenepura to modernize the entire public university system had to be presented to the Committee.

Mr. Nihal Ranasingha, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunga, Chairman of University Grants Commission, Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenepura University, Senior Prof. M. M. Pathmalal and others were called before this Committee.

National strategic plan, report in 2 weeks
The Committee Chair stated that the responsibility of preparing a national strategic plan to modernize the state university system was handed over to University of Sri Jayewardenepura because it had a prestigious name for management and it should be considered as an honor given to that university by Parliament. The Committee Chair further stated that he would like to express his special thanks to the Ministry of Education, the Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayawardenepura University, the University Grants Commission and the team led by Senior Professor Disa Bandara.

Senior Professor Disa Bandara pointed out that since each university has its own unique circumstances, it is possible to work according to this draft by paying attention to all those things. The Committee informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Education to appoint a task force within two weeks and give a report in this regard, in the background where the university system in this country is at risk of collapsing. The COPE Chair also pointed out that small groups of students should not be allowed to bring down the entire universal system. Moreover, the COPE Chair said that the University Grants Commission also has a responsibility to maintain the quality of the universities.

50% of uni. lecturer posts, vacant
Furthermore, Hon. (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara pointed out that about 50% of the universities in this country should become research universities.

Although there should be 12,992 university professors, currently, only 6,548 professors are employed, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission said. He also pointed out that since the same situation can be seen in the non-academic staff, it should be resolved. With the economic crisis in the country, it has become a problem for professors to leave the country and at least 1000 professors should be recruited Chairman of the University Grants Commission further said.

State Ministers – Jagath Pushpakumara and Shantha Bandara as well as MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara, Eran Wickramaratne, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Madhura Withanage and Prof. Charitha Herath were present at the Committee meeting held.

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Passengers jump from plane’s wing after fire alert on Spain flight, triggers panic

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Wildfires have broken out on an island and in towns near Athens in Greece, with blazes also being sparked in Turkey and Syria.

The Hellenic Fire Service and local authorities said that two villages – Tsakeoi and Limnionas – had been evacuated on the island of Evia after the blaze started late on Friday.

One fire service official said more than 160 firefighters, 46 trucks and five aircraft were deployed in southern Evia to put out the fire.

Southern Evia, to the east of Athens, was one of several regions in Greece placed on high alert for wildfires over gale-force winds forecast for today.

Images from Koropi, a town to the southwest of Athens, also show houses burnt down and helicopters dropping water on burning forests.

It marks the latest wildfires to break out in Greece – where blazes are common during the summer – as it tackles strong winds and dry conditions amid an early summer heatwave in southern Europe.

Officials have linked the conditions to at least nine deaths across the continent.

A wildfire broke out in Achlia on the island of Crete on Wednesday, forcing thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate – with some taken to a nearby basketball arena and hotels in safer parts of the island.

The fire service official told Reuters on Friday that the fire in Crete was largely contained.

Meanwhile, blazes have also broken out on Turkey’s west coast – the latest in a series of blazes which started in late June – as well as its southerly neighbour Syria.

At least five fires have been reported in Izmir after extreme heat, strong winds and low humidity. Two people have been killed by the blazes, while tens of thousands have been evacuated.

Fires also flared on both sides of the Turkish-Syrian border on Friday, with a new blaze reported near the town of Dortyol in Turkey’s border province of Hatay.

According to Syria’s Civil Defence, wildfires have spread across large parts of mountainous areas in the Latakia province.

The government department added that conditions have hampered efforts to bring the fire under control, and noted unexploded ordnance could be in some of the areas affected.

Source: SKY NEWS

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CBSL extends Perpetual Treasuries suspension for six months

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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has decided to extend the suspension of Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) from carrying on the business and activities of a Primary Dealer for a further period of six months.

The extension is with effect from 4.30 p.m. on 05th July 2025, in order to continue the investigations being conducted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The suspension has been extended by CBSL acting in terms of the Regulations made under the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance and the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance.

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Kataragama Basnayake Nilame pressured over complaint against Kapuwas’ donation misuse

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It has been reported that Dishan Wickramaratne Gunasekara – the Basnayake Nilame of the historic Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, is facing pressure including from several parties including political circles to withdraw his complaint lodged against the custodians (Kapu Mahattaya) of the devalaya.

The issue had arisen after it was discovered that some custodians were collecting money into their own tills instead of allowing them to be deposited in the official donation box.

Public discussion about the transparency of the temple’s donations intensified after the Basnayake Nilame had begun using a portion of the funds for community projects like hospital construction.

Traditionally, devotees often handed donations directly to the custodians, but the Basnayake Nilame had urged the public via media to place offerings only in the official donation box managed by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

He subsequently arranged a proper audit of all such donations for the first time.

In response, some custodians had reportedly begun pressuring devotees near the official box to hand over donations to them instead.

Upon learning of this, the Basnayake Nilame had lodged a complaint with the Kataragama Police, arguing that diverting funds from the official box amounts to fraudulent misappropriation.

Acting on the complaint, police arrested 02 custodians who were collecting offerings near the official box.

However, other custodians then surrounded the police station and pressured the officers to release the arrested individuals, resulting in their release.

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