Speculation has arisen about a potential disagreement between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya regarding the appointment of the new chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The issue reportedly centers around conflicting decisions about the leadership of the UGC, highlighting possible tensions within the government.
The situation began when outgoing chairman Sampath Amaratunga initially decided to continue in his role following discussions with Prime Minister Amarasuriya. However, shortly afterward, the President’s Secretariat instructed Amaratunga to resign, leading to the appointment of Professor Kapila Senaviratne as the new chairman. The sudden change reportedly came amid objections from grassroots unions, who were concerned about potential losses of benefits under new policies introduced during the previous administration.
The Prime Minister’s Media Unit has rejected claims of a rift, calling such reports baseless and misleading. According to the Prime Minister’s office, there is no conflict between the President and the Prime Minister, and the appointment process was conducted in accordance with proper procedures.
This controversy has drawn attention to the sensitive dynamics of governance, particularly as the government addresses ongoing challenges in educational reforms and university administration. The situation underscores the complexities of managing institutional changes and maintaining cohesion within the administration.
