A Troubling Shift in University Governance

Why the Proposed Universities Bill Raises More Questions than Answers (Amendment to Section 49 of the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978) Sri Lanka’s modern higher-education landscape rests on a deep social commitment established nearly a century ago.

- BY Dr.PRABATH EKANAYAKE. Dean/Faculty of Arts. University of Peradeniya

The transformative reforms led by Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara in the 1940s made free education a cornerstone of national development. As scholars such as Jayaweera (1969), Little (2010), and Fernando (2017) have shown, this investment produced one of the most literate populations in the developing world and laid the foundation for university education to emerge as a public good rather than a privilege.

When the University of Ceylon was established—and later when the Universities Act of 1978 formalized the system—academic freedom and institutional autonomy were embraced as indispensable principles. For decades, autonomy protected universities from political turbulence, ensured that academic affairs remained internally regulated, and upheld quality standards.

Yet by the late 20th century, research by Seneviratne (1999), Wickramasinghe (2014), and others had already begun documenting the gradual erosion of that independence due to politicized appointments, expanding bureaucratic controls, and shifting political priorities. Globally, the trend has moved in the opposite direction: leading systems in the UK, Australia, Canada, and across Europe preserve a strong boundary between government authority and internal academic governance.

While national policy and funding remain state responsibilities, decisions about Deans, Heads of Departments, and the organization of academic units are overwhelmingly internal and merit-based. Sri Lanka’s proposed amendment, however, signals a sharp deviation from these norms.

Against this historical backdrop, the newly gazetted Universities (Amendment) Bill has reignited anxieties about the future of autonomy in the Sri Lankan university system.

What the Amendment Changes

1. Deans (Section 49)

• Eligibility widened to Senior Professors, Professors, Associate Professors, and Senior Lecturers (Grade I).

• A Dean elected from among Heads of Departments must relinquish that post.