Controversy Over Vice Chancellor Appointment at University of Ruhuna

The appointment of the new Vice Chancellor (VC) at the University of Ruhuna has sparked significant controversy, raising concerns over political influence in academic leadership.

Professor Samantha Kumara, who was ranked first in terms of qualifications as per the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, claims that a professor affiliated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), who ranked second, was appointed instead—reportedly on the recommendation of the President.

Expressing his disappointment in a social media post, Professor Kumara emphasized several key concerns:

• He strongly opposes appointments based on political considerations rather than academic qualifications.
• He believes such decisions erode public trust in the National People's Power (NPP)-led government.
• He alleges that both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the UGC are JVP supporters and played a role in the appointment. He has filed a request under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to obtain further details.

Professor Kumara also warned that if political influence extends to the VC position, similar interference could affect other university appointments. However, he clarified that he does not intend to take legal action and does not consider himself "defeated."

This incident has raised serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the university appointment process. Critics argue that it contradicts the promises of the JVP-led NPP government, which came to power vowing to end the very political practices it now appears to be continuing.