SL academia...

Vice Chancellors and professors of State universities totaling 300 participated in the discussions to formulate a high impact report under the Commonwealth theme, ‘Common Poverty to Common Wealth’.

The event, a brainchild of University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson, Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama, was organised by the UGC and Higher Education Ministry. It was titled, ‘A Visionary and Bold Leadership from Sri Lanka’.

President Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake, Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr Sunil Jayantha Nawarathne, UGC Chairperson Prof. Hirimburegama and UGC Vice Chairman Prof Ranjith Senaratne were present at the event.

Addressing the participants, Prof Hirimburegama said that, initially, Higher Education sector officials wanted to contribute to the CHOGM, but later settled to present this proposal to the President who will chair the Commonwealth for the next two years.

President Rajapaksa “has defined holistically, not only physical wealth and financial assets, but also human and natural capital. University academia are happy to join hands with the President who will chair the Commonwealth, to look at the landscape of it, as there are many inequalities and disparities among member countries,” said UGC Vice Chairman Prof Senarathne. He added that this was a great opportunity for them, as previously, there was no forum for intellectuals to contribute their ideologies to the deliberations of the Commonwealth.

Their goals were to express support for the President, to extend duties and functions as the chair of Commonwealth, and to identify unique strength, comparative edges and competitive advantages of Sri Lanka over member states.

During the first session, the academia broke into six groups to discuss several vital topics. The final report was prepared by considering topics such as Youth, Sports and Peace; Education, Innovation and Culture; Health; Trade, Business and Economic Development; Human Security and Democracy, Good Governance and Rule of Law.

The final proposal was later handed over to the President for possible consideration to implement a constructive plan to encourage positive development within the Commonwealth nations during the next two years.