News

COPE urges UGC to collect Rs.2bn from lecturers who didn’t return to SL

Published

7 months ago

May 3, 2023

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Rs. 2 billion should be obtained from lecturers who went abroad for study purposes and have not returned, it was revealed during a Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting held recently.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) was summoned before the COPE which met on April 28 under the Chairmanship of MP Ranjith Bandara to discuss many issues related to the university system and higher education in Sri Lanka.

The discussion took place on the basis of 10 points which were brought to the attention of COPE and the COPE made several recommendations to the UGC regarding reforms in the higher education sector.

During the discussion held regarding the lecturers who did not return after leaving the country to pursue further education abroad, the Committee members said that they should take action to recover this amount from the relevant guarantors.

It was revealed that only 84 of the 617 lecturers who went abroad have made the relevant payments so far. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that COPE be informed about the measures taken in this regard within a month.

It was also disclosed that a software engineering degree course has been introduced by the Open University at a cost of Rs.90,000 per year. While stating that usually in a private university such a degree costs Rs. 2-3 million, the UGC Chairman pointed out that this degree can be completed for less than Rs.300,000.

Accordingly, the Committee members advised the Commission to take steps to inform the people about this through the district coordination committees.

News

Kataragama chief custodian & grandson missing during Tiran’s visit

Published

21 mins ago

December 11, 2023

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The chief custodian (Kapu Mahattaya) of the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya and his grandson (who is currently the custodian in charge of the Devala store room), have disappeared from Kataragama, reports say.

Last week, the Attorney General instructed to arrest the duo over a 38-pound gold offering that had gone missing from the Devalaya. The offering had been made by the wife of former underworld leader – Angoda Lokka.

Accordingly, the chief custodian – Dhurandara Somipala Ratnayake and his grandson – Saman Priyantha or Chuti Kapu Mahathaya, who is in charge of the temple’s storeroom, are to be arrested.

Meanwhile, the duo had not turned up when the Acting IGP – Deshabandu Tennakoon and Minister of Public Security – Tiran Alles had visited the Kiri Vehera and Kataragama Devalaya on Dec. 09 for religious observances.

Only 03 other custodians had been present at the Devalaya during that time.

A custodian had informed higher officials that the duo had recently left for another province, with plans to appear in courts through lawyers’ intervention and amid political support.

News

Consumer Protection Act to be amended to prosecute rice hoarders

Published

26 mins ago

December 11, 2023

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The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) is to be amended in a bid to prosecute rice hoarders, reports say.

The current provisions of the CPA only allows officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority to inspect and prosecute persons and institutions who sell at higher prices.

It does not empower the CAA officers to prosecute persons hiding rice or other foodstuffs or to inspect such places.

This has been discussed at a Cabinet meeting and the state owned ‘Daily News’ reports that necessary amendments of this Act will be submitted to the Cabinet next month.

(Source : dailynews.lk)