New Colombo uni VC takes swipe at undergrads

The newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University, Senior Prof. H.D. Karunaratne, has lambasted local undergraduates at an event at the JRJ centre meant to attract Lankan students to the Tokyo University.

The academic who is yet to receive the appointment formally declared that the majority of undergraduates here were an utterly irresponsible and destructive lot, in spite of receiving government sponsorship and assistance, including the Mahapola Scholarship scheme.

Among those present on the occasion were Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Japanese Ambassador in Colombo Mizukoshi Hideaki and Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunga.

Pro. Karunaratne said that the undergraduates at the Tokyo University during their free time engaged in part-time jobs to earn some much-needed funds whereas their counterparts here are nothing but a burden on the society and the government as well

Prof. Karunaratne indicated that he intended to address these issues during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor.