New Competent Authority Appointed for University of Ruhuna

The decision was made by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, in her capacity as Minister of Education, following a serious disruption of the university’s administration and a failure to restore normalcy.

The appointment grants Prof. Rathnayake full authority over the university’s operations, including all the powers and duties of the Vice Chancellor, as outlined under the Universities Act and related regulations.

This intervention comes amid a prolonged strike by the university's academic and non-academic staff, which began on November 19, 2024.

 The trade unions, along with the Inter-University Students Federation, have been demanding the removal of the current Vice Chancellor, Senior Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena, due to alleged administrative mismanagement. The protests have intensified over the past week, with students and staff alike expressing dissatisfaction with the current leadership.

Prof. Amarasena, however, has firmly denied the allegations and has stated that he will not step down, despite increasing pressure from various factions within the university community.

The appointment of Prof. Rathnayake as the competent authority aims to bring stability to the university and resolve the ongoing conflict, with the education ministry stating that it is committed to ensuring the continuity of academic activities.