University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is the body responsible for funding most of the State Universities in Sri Lanka, and operates within the frame work of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, itself established by the Cabinet Minister of Education & Higher Education at the time Dr. Nissanka Wijeyeratne in 1979.[1] A public organisation, established under the Parliament Act No 16 of 1978. Location is at No 20, Ward Place Colombo 07.
Abbreviation | UGC |
---|---|
Formation | 22 December 1979 |
Purpose | planning and co-ordination of university education, allocation of funds to Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), maintenance of academic standards, regulation of the administration of HEIs and regulation of admission of students to HEIs. |
Headquarters | Colombo |
Location | |
Official language | Sinhala, Tamil, English |
Chairman | Senior Professor Sampath Amaratunge |
Main organ | Commission Members |
Affiliations | Government of Sri Lanka |
Staff | Over 200 |
Website | https://www.ugc.ac.lk/ |
It distributes public money, allocated by the Government for teaching and research to universities and university affiliated institutes, as such controls much influence and appointments at state universities.
Functions
The official functions of the UGC are;
- Allocation of funds to Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) that come under it
- Planning and co-ordination of university education
- Maintenance of academic standards
- Regulation of the administration of HEIs
- Regulation of student admissions to HEIs
The Commission members
The Universities Act provides for seven members of the Commission appointed by the President. These are:[2]
- Senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunge – Chairman [3]
- Senior Prof. Janitha A Liyanage – Vice-Chairperson[4]
- Rev. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkitha Thero – Commission Member[4]
- Senior Prof. A K W Jayawardane – Commission Member [4]
- Prof. (Ms.) Vasanthy Arasaratnam – Commission Member[4]
- Prof. Premakumara de Silva – Commission Member[4]
- Mr. Palitha Kumarasinghe – Commission Member[4]
The following attend the meetings of the Commission but are not members and do not vote:
Higher Educational Institutions controlled by the UGC
- University of Colombo
- University of Colombo School of Computing
- Institute of Indigenous Medicine
- Institute of Worker's Education
- National Institute of Library and Information Science
- National Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities & Social Sciences[5]
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB)
- Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo
- Sri Palee Campus
- University of Peradeniya
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- University of Kelaniya
- University of Moratuwa
- University of Jaffna
- Vavuniya Campus
- University of Ruhuna
- Open University, Sri Lanka
- Eastern University, Sri Lanka
- Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies
- Trincomalee Campus
- Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
- Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
- Uva Wellassa University
- Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
- University of the Visual & Performing Arts
- South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
- National Center for Advanced Studies
See also
References
- A Diverse, Colourful Life. Island (Sri Lanka), Retrieved on 7 January 2012.
- Commission Members, University Grants Commission.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)