Nearly Rs. 30 billion is currently owed by university lecturers across the entire Sri Lankan university system for defaulting on their agreements and bonds, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) revealed.

Chaired by MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, the committee directed officials to formulate a systematic mechanism to recover these funds from bond defaulters who have gone overseas. The disclosures came during a COPE meeting on November 4, which examined current performance and audit reports of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka for 2023 and 2024.

The committee highlighted major financial and administrative irregularities at Eastern University, noting that despite receiving nearly Rs. 3 billion annually from the government, the university lacked a Treasury representative on its Audit and Management Committee. COPE pointed out a conflict of interest caused by a Senior Assistant Internal Auditor directly involved in financial affairs acting as the Chief Internal Auditor. Inquiries were also raised over missing personal files, conflicting certificates for academic qualifications and promotions, improper study leave, an unrecovered overpayment of Rs. 3,633,900 to a lecturer who resigned to contest an election before returning, and procurement violations in purchasing medical equipment.

Furthermore, COPE expressed concern over 38 support staff members bypassing the fingerprint system and taking excess leave ranging from 5 to 83.5 days, resulting in unrecovered salaries totaling Rs. 99,181,457. Rejecting excuses attributing missing records to the civil war, tsunami, and floods, the committee directed the Ministry Secretary to expedite amendments to the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 to empower the University Grants Commission (UGC) to intervene in Council irregularities, while mandating transparent biometric attendance systems for all staff. (Eduwire)