An extraordinary Gazette notification has been issued appointing Senior Prof. R.M.U.S.K. Rathnayake to be the competent authority for the purpose of exercising, performing and discharging in lieu of Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna.

The Gazette notification, issued by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya by virtue of the powers vested in her as the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, mentioned that the appointment was made on being satisfied that the administration of the University of Ruhuna have been seriously dislocated and that the authorities of the said university have failed to restore normal conditions.

Accordingly, the appointment will come into effect from 25 November 2024, as per the Gazette notification.

It further highlighted that any power, duty or function which has been conferred or imposed on, or assigned to the said Vice Chancellor under the Universities Act, or under any order, ordinance, statute, by-law, regulation or rule will be made thereunder Senior Prof. R.M.U.S.K. Rathnayake effective from Monday (25).

All academic and non-academic trade unions affiliated with the University of Ruhuna had announced a continuous strike commencing from November 19, demanding the immediate removal of the university’s Vice Chancellor.

Meanwhile, the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) also engaged in a Satyagraha in front of the Ministry of Education (MoE) and protested demanding the removal of the Vice Chancellor of Ruhuna University.

However, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Ruhuna, Senior Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena had categorically denied all allegations leveled against him and asserted that he will not resign from his position, despite mounting pressure and ongoing protests by academic and non-academic staff and the students’ unions.