Minister Kiriella reprimands news reporter who ...

Minister Kiriella reprimands news reporter who ..

tried to question about letter asking for a campus lecturer-post

A letter written by Minister of Higher Education Lakshman Kiriella on behalf of some individual requesting that the said person be given a temporary appointment in the capacity of a lecturer at the Political Science Department at

the University of Kelaniya after his qualifications are scrutinised was spotlighted recently and this matter came into criticism by university scholars too.

The referred to letter which at first sight appeared to be a political mediation for university appointments, the Minister later clarified that the letter was only a recommendation made therein to grant an appointment after scrutinising the qualifications and that under Clause 19 of the University Act the Minister has the authority to issue such a recommendation.

Reporter Amith Madhuranga of 'Ada' newspaper had wanted to clarify matters relating to this letter and during that process the Minister had reprimanded him in an undignified manner and had advised him to read through the Act concerned, it was reported. Whatever it is, university lecturers had once again clarified matters in this connection saying that there is no such thing stated in Clause 19 of the Act. They say that what is stated therein is that the Minister is responsible in connection with the orientation of university education and also concerning the implementation of the University Act and therefore they say that a mediation of this nature cannot be justified.

The letter which caused an uproar and supposed to have been written by the Minister,  from below  and the audio of the dialogue that ensued with the reporter appears below that