By The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has ordered the Council of the University of Peradeniya to take disciplinary action against Professor Ananda Jayawicrama for violating the fundamental rights of a fellow academic.
In a ruling given by former Supreme Court Judge LTB Dehidenya, currently chairman of the Human Rights Commission, and Commissioner Nimal Punchihewa, it was stated that Professor Ananda Jayawickrama, who is currently the acting head of Archaeology, violated the fundamental right to equality guaranteed by the constitution.
Professor MWCNK (Mrs) Rambukwella, chair professor of Archaeology, had been prevented from participating in an international conference organized by Mohanlal Sukhadia University in the State of Rajasthan, India. The Conference was to be healed the second and fifth of February and Professor Rambukwella was to play a key role in the conference
Her application for overseas conference leave had not been processed in a timely manner by the Acting Head of Department, Professor Ananda Jayawickrama, and others within the university administration, observed the Human Rights Commission. The defence presented by the university administration has been dismissed by the Human Rights Commission, and the Council of the University of Peradeniya has been informed to report back to the commission after taking suitable disciplinary action against Professor Ananda Jayawickrama.
The State Minister of Higher Education, Suren Ragavan, the Secretary of Higher Education, and the entire senate have been informed of the violation of the fundamental rights of Chair Professor MWCNK Rambukwella for suitable action.
