University of Sri Jayewardenepura Appoints New Governing Body

 The University Grants Commission has taken steps to appoint a new governing body with the aim of streamlining the administrative and academic affairs of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. This new governing body comprises fourteen experts representing various fields.

The new governing body members include Mr. Mutaza A.H. Eusufali, Chairman of Hemas Hospital; Mr. Isuru Tillakawardana, Deputy Managing Director of Commercial Bank; Ms. Imani Perera, Head of Human Resources (Consumer Foods) at John Keells Holdings; and Ms. Vajira Kumari Hami, Group Director at Andros Cocoa. Additionally, professionals such as Engineer M.M.S. Moramudali, Manager at V.V. Karunaratne & Co.; Chief Engineer Priyantha Abeysinghe of Regen Renewable; and Nandika Buddhipala, former Chief Financial Officer of Commercial Bank, are also included in this list.

Experienced academics from the public service and higher education sectors, including former Presidential Secretary Udaya Seneviratne, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo Professor Chandrika Wijeyaratne, and Emeritus Professor S.P. Deraniyagala from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Jayewardenepura, also represent the new governing body. B.L.H. Perera, Program Director of the National Olympic Committee; Gamini Banda Herath, Chairman of CEFE Sri Lanka; Dr. Anusha Abeywickrama from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for South Asia; and Attorney-at-Law Gotabhaya Dissanayake will also serve as other members of the governing body.

Founded in 1873 by the venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thero, this university originated from the renowned Vidyodaya Pirivena and holds a historical background, having become the first university in independent Sri Lanka in 1959.