By Arul K. Selvaratnam –
At a time when our universities badly lack qualified staff and are trying to rebuild themzelves, a Selection Committee meeting on Jan. 30 2014 found Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole unqualified for the post of Professor of Computer Science on all the measures specified by the UGC’s Circular 916. So says the report of the Selection Committee consisting of Prof. V. Arasaratnam (VC), Prof. S. Srisatkunarajah (Dean/Science), Dr. E.V.A. Charles (Head/CS), Prof. N.D. Kodikara of Colombo and Prof. N.G.J. Dias of Moratuwa (Senate Nominees), Prof. Mrs. Pushpa Wijekoon of Peradeniya and Prof. D.D.S. Kulatunga of Kelaniya (UGC Nominees) and Mr. P. Thyagarajah and Mr. M. Balasubramaniam (Council Nominees). Their minute to the University of Jaffna’s Council on 8 February reads that they do not recommend his appointment because he has not, to quote exactly, “obtained required minimum marks for teaching, scholarship & Academic development and Contribution to University and National/International development.”
Prof S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
This is impossible say Prof. Hoole’s students: “Peradeniya assessed him as passing on the same measures 15 years ago. He has earned many more points since and even more in the last three years since his application. London saw fit to give him its D.Sc. degree. The IEEE made him a Fellow, the first from Sri Lanka. He has taught computer science at major US research universities. He was University of Jaffna’s, Eastern University’s and South Eastern University’s moderator and external examiner in Computer Science. To check I googled “Google Scholar Hoole.” This independent web site tracking research output lists 861 citations for him. At the 0.5 point per citation under Commission Circular 916 on recruitment of professors, this gives him 430.5 points for just one measure in the scheme of recruitment while the total required for all together in a successful application is 115! How can he fail on all measures?
The Council minute shows Prof. Hoole’s self-assessment in the three areas of assessment, namely 1) Teaching scholarship and Academic Development 2)Research, Scholarship and Creative Work and 3) Contribution to University and National Development, to be 50, 261.25 and 44, respectively.
A very upset Jaffna University academic had this to say: “We rely on the Council and the Selection Committee to check there is no wrong-doing by the administration. But here, senior responsible persons from the entire system are endorsing wrong doing and giving it the cover of respectability through their signatures. It then makes administrative manipulation more difficult to challenge. With such a big discrepancy I wish someone on the Council had queried how that was. They have failed us.” He pointed to International Development, not seen anywhere in Circular 916, as an additional requirement the system has required of Prof. Hoole.
According to Prof. Carlo Fonseka (“Returned academic excellence vs entrenched academic mediocrity,” Island, May 12, 2011) the President in 2010 ordered Prof. Hoole’s appointment and his wife’s at Jaffna and the UGC then asked Jaffna to advertise the post. The Hooles applied early in 2011. Mrs. Hoole was summoned to an interview last year and she came all the way from the US. She was not selected allegedly for not having the required points. It is said that they fiddled her categorization between internal candidate and external to disqualify her although she could have fitted under either.
Prof. Hoole himself was summoned at the end of January, three years after his application technically expired under UGC Circular 699 as amended by Circular 732. Is it a coincidence that the closing date for VC applications was Feb. 12? Contacted by email for this piece, Prof. Hoole wrote: “I only want to say that after my wife’s experience I did not want to cancel my classes and run suddenly for the interview. So I asked for a Skype interview. I was then asked to be ready between 10 AM and 2:30 PM which was 11 PM to 4:00 AM in the US. I waited in front of my computer all dressed up and went to bed at 4:30 when there was no call. I understand the committee dispersed in a few minutes and left without a message to me to go to bed. I wish we can cultivate greater courtesy towards people. The system will automatically get better.”
A student , now a senior engineer, was very sad: “I was in Trincomalee when the war and curfews prevented my admission letter from being delivered. I was denied admission because of being late. Prof. Hoole, a total stranger, befriended me, fought for me, took me to his home in Colombo to meet some pressmen and got my story published in the newspapers. The authorities had to change their mind. I am an engineer today because of him. We need academics like him to be our role models.”
Prof. Carlo Fonseka in his article admits to encouraging the Hooles to return and explains, “In a system with many mediocrities those of exceptional quality make the mediocre look ugly! So the mediocrities do their damndest to eliminate the truly exceptional.”
Lank an / February 16, 2014
If you are an agent of this ruling elite you do not need to have any academic qualification or academic credit you could become a top man at any institute in SL. You could buy any certificate or any post but if you go against it all your qualifications or expericnne would go to dust bin or you have to leave the country and i know hundreds of our academic lest the country because they longer work under this type of ruling. It is worst that Sadam or Qadafi type rule
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Davidson Panabokke / February 16, 2014
This is suicide in a way.
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Sunila / February 16, 2014
Sri Lanka’s universities are full of low grade lecturers and mediocrity as is the UGC. Mediocrity and NOT MERITOCRACY is the standard of the university and it is too easy to merely blame this on politicization of universities. Rather, back stabbing foreign qualified academics is a standard of Sinhala Nationalism in the University even BEFORE the levels of current politicization..
Most university lecturers who are half baked local scholars do no want to hire any outstanding academics with international qualifications and publications because they feel threatened and their mediocrity and lack of research publications will be shown up. I know an Ivy League PHD with many publications to her name who was not even given an interview for a Professorship at the Open University Of Sri Lanka Social Studies Dept. Same thing had happened with the University of Colombo Sociology Dept. Of course, she thinks that it is because she is Tamil and woman that she has been so discriminated against..
The back stabbing mediocrity in the whole Sri Lanka university system is pervasive and a joke. This is the reason why the universities should be privatized and MERITOCRACY rather than mediocrity should be a basis of all hiring decisions.
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Prof Leelawathie Rajapaksa / February 16, 2014
very true. I have several examples where internationally-reputed scholars were ruthlessly turned down at Peradeniya university. In some instances they werent even called to face interviews. Barring the best and filling with goons/lovers/wives have become the culture at Peradeniya. You simply examine staff at Physics, Maths or Mechanical/Civil engineering departments to know the story. lack of qualified staff is not due to no applicants BUT due to shutting doors to qualified staff. Academic mafia prevents this topic from being debated in public.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
” internationally-reputed scholars “
You must take that with a pinch of salt.
Rajapassa and Dayan have promoted some of SL professors to internationally-reputed scholars(Prof. Dr. Nira Konjit Wickramasinghe presently at Leiden University the Netherlands, and they go on harping that Sihala are: By about the fifth century BC peoples from northern India had settled on the island. Legends mention the name of their leader, prince Vijaya. The settlers were called Sihalas–‘people of the Lion’–because Vijaya’s father was actually believed to have been a lion.
Bestiality Breed!! Ha ha
Every Indian knows that the northerners travelled to Romania and most are known as ROMA travelers. Why and how understand the terrain of India.
http://romafacts.uni-graz.at/index.php/history/pre-european-history-first-migration-from-central-india-to-byzantium/from-india-to-europe
It is easy for folk who have not travelled to drop the idea of Gautama in the black hole between BC300-BC 500 when Alexander the Great invaded west Punjab and later went bersake (because he could not go further seeing the sight of Chandragupta Mauryas Army) then started killing every woman and child too untill he fell dead at Babylon. Hitler in search for his blue eyed/cats eye therefore ended up raping Greece to find what Alex had hidden. Today the poor greeks want their treasures back form the romans.
Ha ha. International Liars professors of history.
Every child looking for food in the bins during Sirimas time knew Robert MacNamara as much as we all know Dominique Strauss-Kahn the sexpert.
She like another lankan woman sponsored by Chandrika took London for suckers ( london one minted millions) for 10 long years both did not know nappy for 2 years till they arrived in the west.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
BTW your very own MacWoods Nonis kept on harping to the CNN interviewer (white guy) “We are a 2500 year civilisation” and got away. Then he was interviewed by former CNN Biz News Mishal Husain presently at BBC and born in Pakistan along the partition so as soon as he said 2500 year culture she simply put him off because the parrot was just lying for the sake of it- British accent for what???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs12I6am9kA
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Point Man / February 17, 2014
Native Vedda + Cocaine = Javi.
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Native Vedda / February 18, 2014
Point Man
“Native Vedda + Cocaine = Javi.”
I don’t work for Prime Minister’s office therefore count me out of the cocaine trade.
I am not sure about Javi. Have you borrowed any money from him?
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Javi / February 18, 2014
Point Man= Fabrucked mercenary working for a terrorist regime.
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JimSofty / February 17, 2014
I have seen North American Universities turning down very qualified individuals less experienced individuals just because that person was one of theirs.
The individual they turned down was a far far better researcher in comparison to the individual who was one of theirs and that person had only the basic qualifications.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
The American UN expert at SL refused a Sinhalese with high flying US qualifications because he could not reproduce what he had on his thesis but the job was offered to a tamil who refused because he got a job with a private company and the chance of going abroad.
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UOC LEC / February 18, 2014
Thanks for the Article,
The role of politics has become normal in the academic appointments. English specialized graduates are appointed to teach Economics. International Relations specialized graduates are appointed to teach English at peradeniya uni. Economics specialized graduates are appointed to teach Political science for MA students at Kelaniya Uni. Non research degree (only written exam degree)holders, specially journalists become state policy recomendators.
The recent appointments of UGC chairman and Vice Chancellor of the Uni Of Colombo are very obviously very political.
[Edited out]’s (uni of Col)FULL professorship is due to a Favourism. [Edited out]’s (uni of Col) associated professorship was due to her friendship with the VC Hettiarachchi.
[Edited out]’s continuous Department Headship also due to her personal relationship with the VC.
So the state corruption is everywhere. Nothing to wonder about POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS.
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UOC LEC / February 18, 2014
*(Edited Out)
Former pol sc department head’s (2009-2011) (uni of Col)FULL professorship is due to a Favourism. Current [Edited out] department Head’s (uni of Col) associated professorship was due to her friendship with the VC Hettiarachchi. Further her continuous Department Headship also due to her personal relationship with the VC.
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UOC LEC / February 18, 2014
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rewa / February 17, 2014
You are right. This got to be the biggest joke in history.
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Jeyanthy Croos / February 18, 2014
The government should not interfere in the universities and let them function independently.If the government appoints unqualified people,not only the standard of the universities will be affected,but the students also.At the same time,the academics who talks about democracy,human rights,rule of law and corruption also should not go after the politicians for their own benefits. I was wondering why Prof.Hooloe didnt write anything recently criticizing the government and Douglas. If corruption is wrong,going after the politicians for VC post is also wrong.
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Jaffna Man / February 16, 2014
I would not rush blame all members of the Council. One told me that for the last Council (where the wrongful decision of the Selection Committee on Hoole was accepted) he got 3 books of minutes and papers for the morning of the meeting as he was rushing to the meeting. He just did not see the minute as he did not (because he could not) go through the books.
By agreeing to this process, by going to the meeting without proper time to study the business for the meeting, the council members have agreed to be used like this by the VC.
This is what happens when people who dare not speak up presume sit on Councils to endorse wrong doing by the VC. Remember that it was she, the VC, chaired the Selection Committee and panels on this non-selection.
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Native Vedda / February 16, 2014
Jaffna Man
These problems can be easily solved.
Either abolish the academic posts of professorship
Or authorize each MP to appoint two or more professors each year – no need for qualification, teaching experience nor any research contribution.
Or sell it to the highest bidder.
I don’t understand why Tamils and Sinhalese cannot think innovative ideas to solve problems.
I cannot be there 24/7/52 to solve all your silly problems.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
Native,
You work hard and must be bored and I wonder how you manage it all because I am leaving this forum of the uninformed lazy fascist soon.
The best professors were the lecturers with a lucrative private practice and the urge to be in touch with research. Time magazine sometime in 77-78 carried out a survey of lecturers/professors who read outside their curriculum and found that less than 5% did so- this is fact so most students spend time in the reference libraries to get that elusive over 90’s.
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Thiru / February 16, 2014
You brothers have nothing better to do than go on blabbering.
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Chandima Gomes / February 16, 2014
Once I was a very junior Senior Lecturer at the Physics Department, UOC, I asked Prof. Hoole whether I can use their HV lab at Pera for few experiments. Barely knowing me, he said that I can come at anytime and do what I want. I asked him for the charge and he said “what charge you are talking about; these facilities are always opened for a fellow academic”.
When I went for the experiments to Pera with my student, he treated me as a fellow scientist; not as a junior-most senior lecturer as our own people used to refer me until I left UOC. He is a blue sapphire among quartz crystals… Both a brilliant scientist and a wonderful human being….
I am not surprised at all when I read about the way that so called “Academic Seniors” have treated Prof. Hoole’s case….. I have my own story…….
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Jayan / February 18, 2014
Share your story Malaysian Madaya Prof.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 16, 2014
Mediocrity favours mediocrity and fears excellence. Excellence favours and promotes further excellence. Jaffna university is a glorified high school and will continue to be so for a long time. It is no better, but possibly worse than the other institutions that are called universities in this country.
There can be no doubts about a Prof. Hoole’s academic credentials and excellence, though doubts remain about his temperamental suitability to be successful at the Jaffna University and move it forward to becoming a University in the real sense. I wonder what yet makes Prof. Hoole desire to serve at the U of J after his previous two traumatic attempts! Does he think the circumstances have changed at the University, in Jaffna or in the country ?
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Native Vedda / February 16, 2014
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
“It is no better, but possibly worse than the other institutions that are called universities in this country.”
If universities are not fit for the purpose lets abolish them.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 17, 2014
Native Vedda,
Let us not abolish them but call them what they are- ‘ Higher High Schools’. Let them grant diplomas instead of degrees. The lecturers should be called teachers, the deans vice-principals and the Vice-Chancellors Principals. They should teach the curricula designed by various committees in the Higher Education Ministry. The text books should be prepared and distributed by this ministry and examinations should be conducted by this ministry. The government should employ every single diploma holder from these HHSs to reduce unemployment in the country, as the President is doing with our graduates at present. They can twiddle their thumbs in various government institutions or at least made to punch holes in documents and compile files. That is the way to go in this Miracle of Asia. Indigenous solutions to our indigenous degeneration!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Native Vedda / February 17, 2014
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Its a good idea. I will second it.
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Javi / February 19, 2014
Lanka is like Nepal University and Government in many ways; many diplomatic postings and many scholarships to folk with the clout.
The only difference is Lankans have a higher verbal virtuosity compared to them so they imagine they are like the Jewish folk or the Japanese (in their language only)
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oopla / February 20, 2014
yes. Sri Lnakan academia needs to get its act together. But this cannot be conflated with Prof Hooles non appointment. One needs a visionary who can build on consensus. Unfortunately Prof Hooles cannot rise upto the job. [Edited out]
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Jaffna woman / February 16, 2014
This is the pervasive nature of the leadership of the present V.C. She neither wants people of good academic caliber which she lacks nor wants the society to be ruled by scholarship. The appeal of Jaffna Science Teachers association(JUSTA) in last December clearly states that the major criterion for the selection of academic post is academic excellence. How can we expect the academic excellence if the administration wants people going after them?.
What We urgently need now is complete rebuilding of the University of Jaffna not the renovation
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Native Vedda / February 16, 2014
Jaffna woman
“What We urgently need now is complete rebuilding of the University of Jaffna not the renovation.”
Good, then why don’t the stupid Tamils exile Douglas and his cronies to Antarctica?
This is only a suggestion I know you cannot enforce it.
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Fathima Fukushima / February 18, 2014
Tell me, how did you forget IPKF so quickly?
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Javi / February 19, 2014
The Muslims fought alongside the Marathas the martial race to drive away the invading Persian Islamic forces.
This time over the IAF Maratha forces with Muslims will bomb you till then keep on grunting in your pigsty.
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Jagath Fernando / February 16, 2014
Our university system needs a complete overhaul. Successive governments have been reluctant to do any changes due to political and social pressures.
Thankfully some changes have been done by the present government and hopefully after the elections a few more outstanding issues will be sorted out.
It is no secret that the majority of graduates who opt to remain in universities are graduates who cannot find suitable employment in the public or private sector. The research capabilities are almost non existent and at the same time most of the lecturers do not even teach 10 hours a week.
FUTA needs to turn the search light inwards before asking for their demands.
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Prof Leelawathie Rajapaksa / February 16, 2014
absolutely agree…… FUTA must turn the search light inwards and sort out Academic Mafia, often committed by its own membership! unless they do so, they cant shout anymore tat State universities lack qualified staff due to poor salaries.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
Just shut it down because one has to learn as you cant make a horse drink.
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manel fonseka / February 16, 2014
Unbelievable! Where are we headed!
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Davidson Panabokke / February 17, 2014
To Hell
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rewa / February 17, 2014
Hell?. I thought we are living in one already!
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Javi / February 19, 2014
keep on walking. ;)
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Thrishantha / February 16, 2014
I am not taking sides, but at an international level, Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole is the only IEEE fellow in the area of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science I know of, in Sri Lanka. One needs very credible and high level academic records to be awarded with this international honor. I am not sure if those who served in the panel has higher credentials from other professional bodies (like fellow royal society, fellow IET, nobel laureate, etc), but stop this stupid vengeance against internationally recognized Sri Lankan academics based on mediocre criteria like national service. If national service is that important to become a professor (not in any other respected academic institute I know of), Prof. Hoole has served in the UGC. If one wishes to compare academics in their research performance, please go to Google Scholar and type the name. then you get the academic record with the H-Index that summarizes the scientific performance of an academic in one number. For instance, Prof. Hoole’s record is found at: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=zK59uroAAAAJ&hl=en (H-index of 12). Unfortunately, I found that Prof. Vasanthy Arasaratnam who lead the team of evaluators to have an H-index of 9: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=N6dOR8cAAAAJ&hl=en
I know Prof. Hoole is outspoken and sometimes difficult to deal with. But it is our job as academics to focus on his academic value and respect his right to express. If one needs to challenge him, please use facts and figures openly available in the internet, than mediocre measures like National Contributions (often used to salvage distracted ones) to assess the value of true academics (focusing on research).
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sharmila Perera / February 17, 2014
Google Scholar is not the right indicator baby. Use many other indicators. More than 80% Nobel price winners do not have google any number of citations. I totally agreed with Colombo University family dept mafia case and it is well known and documented internationally.
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Thrishantha / February 18, 2014
Show me one nobel prize winner in Science fields without a Google profile. Here is Albert Einstein’s profile: http://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=yDJQ_LkAAAAJ&hl=en
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Javi / February 18, 2014
“Show me one nobel prize winner in Science fields”
you are just Jack `Boo`ts.
Who talks about Noble Prize in today’s world when Obama are receipt bombed Libya- did he deserve it in the first instance. You are better off winning a lottery or being a punter.
When MIT Bose of Bose Corp lectured the attendance was 100%
The same was with our Industrial Engineering lecturer who ran his spare parts manufacturing firm.
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Jayan / February 18, 2014
Barack Obama won nobel prize no google citations. Google came after 1980s nobel prize existed from 1921 fool. Then how come google cite them. You may be good to work in Sri Lankan Universities.
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Thrishantha / February 20, 2014
Crack heads, I asked for science Nobel prizes. Barack Obama won the Nobel peace prize. Besides that, check how Google has a profile for Albert Einstein.
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Javi / February 20, 2014
“Crack heads, I asked for science Nobel prizes.”
Who cares to follow your instructions- you are just another paid employee who spoke bugger all about MIG not knowing that India is about to give up its MIG 21 and just launched it own 4th generation fighter.
you went into hiding even when CT called you- burro is the word.
Small mind you try to enter all branches of engineering. You never met greatness or moved with them.
Jack Boots the used condom go jump in the well along with your government that is already in the well.
You must be slouched to think others are crack heads.
Don’t think your knowledge is the only knowledge in this world moda man.
You are no different from a mercenary who is hiding from ¬Gooo`ta whose passe you had been licking.
Greatness- ANS Kulasingha, proved it in his own country that he was great which is something you can never be.
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Javi / February 20, 2014
Thrishantha ,
¬Crack heads,
The best crack heads would be the men of the same gooota bogey
Rohan Gunaratna + Thrishantha Nanayakkara could be the classic dibul pora
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Thrishantha / February 21, 2014
Hah ha! so you don’t know how Einstein got a Google Scholar profile, ha? Next time do a Google search before writing crap here! Anyway, my point is, you cannot easily take down reputed academics like Prof. Hoole in this age of internet search engines. You may have done in good old days, as I can see from the style of your venom. Venom cracks open heads! Be careful pal.
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Javi / February 21, 2014
Ho ho he he!!
Go crack your own head stupid ananda/nalanda passa.
Hate is inbuilt in you mercenary nut case.
I give a toss whether you kill tamil or sinhalese but you are a killer who looked for importance and lost your sarema to gooota your god.
You are just another lecturer in Uk who is somebody to a begging nation. nothing more [Edited out].
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Javi / February 21, 2014
Einstein was a refugee in the Uk or else he would have been nobody or dead.
Piccaso was a refugee at Paris so he performed.
We know who we are and never wanted to get into teaching as it is for “gutnas” [Edited out] who are unable to find another job because of their character.
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Dr (Medical specialist) Shamila / February 23, 2014
If you follow scientific method on investigation everything become science. But it can be natural and social science both are equal. One is not better than other in University system. Seems like you are living in Sri Lankan A/L mentality to define science.
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Javi / February 18, 2014
Thought for the day!
Every positive value has its price in negative terms…
The genius of Einstein leads to Hiroshima.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
Becoming a professor and being just that is best for women because of the 3 month holiday where they can grow with their offspring as equals.
The men who get in and just stick to that job only unable to run their own profession end up as politicians.
In the UK when some school teachers retire they head the church and live in luxury.
Why did Bill Gates et al leave like Rowark?
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Prof. khareak / February 19, 2014
Take Higher education Ministry Sec. He does not have PhD degree but claimed it. Why not you check and clean this Ministry. Ask his PhD certificate and check with the respective Japanese University. He did not complete it. Recently he even extend service to his friends in Ruhuna University after 65 years of age. Why only his friend other also deserve this chance. Appoint corruptive people as emeritus. Example former Colombo University corruptive VC. If you want to really clean the mafia and family business of Sri Lankan University check Colombo University arts faculty family dept (Econ) and his emeritus past. Now you can do it because you are living in aboard. I can give all the information about this family dept and its emeritus during last 25 years.
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Javi / February 19, 2014
What did qualified but unable to win a case at Colombo courts GL Peiris of Colombo Law faculty do to some of the best students because he was jealous of their family background??
You will not be able to say that but there is one PC today who showed me the proof then and I have no authority to mention his mention his name. There are invertebrates like him whether they belong to high or low background world over.
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R. Jeyhan / February 19, 2014
Yes check the names of consultants of HETC and many other projects in Higher Education Ministry. Most are SBs blood relatives and wasting money like kings. Check even advisers o ministry they are just nothing and some even do not have PhDs but became S. Lecturers of so called Mafia and family business of Sri Lankan Universities. Colombo University Arts faculty family business and mafia (Once you are in never be out) type department world famous and it shows low quality of Sri Lankan Universities.
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Prof Leelawathie Rajapaksa / February 16, 2014
Same style as Peradeniya University. There are ample examples. most recent ones from Engineering Faculty. We will publish them in due course.
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Hilmy / February 16, 2014
Nobody should forget it is Prof. Hoole [Edited out]
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Hilmy / February 17, 2014
Nobody should forget it is Prof. Hoole who has the kind of “greatness” – going by his past record – to be the final nail in the coffin of Jaffna University.
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JimSofty / February 16, 2014
Prof Hoole is academically qualified. but [Edited out]
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JimSofty / February 17, 2014
This is not my comment. This is only waht CT wants others to read.
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chandra / February 17, 2014
Jimbo
It’s such a shame free education at tax payers expense gets wasted
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Jayan / February 17, 2014
Yes authorities (President appointed Committee) has to re-check all the publications and qualifications of Sri Lankan bogus professors. You will find less than 1% are real international professors. In order to be a professor your PhD must be from top ranking good University and minimum 20 publications in international high impact indexed journal such as ISI,SCOPUS, COMPENDEX..etc. Take Sri Lankan Engineering faculty professors in Sri Lanka Universities over 99% Eng. professors have only publications in IESL un-indexed non-listed two journals and all other faculties same story. Arts and management worse. Kalaniya, Colombo, Ruhuna, Sabaragamuwa…etc professors are jokers and bus drivers and three wheel drivers are more qualified than them. Sack them and expose them for eating poor tax payers money covering to wrong title. Another faculties are worse than this. Take Colombo University Economics Dept inside. It is a family business sons, sons friends, grandfather, henchmen are the lecturers. All the recruitment for this dept are outdoor connected and sending to grandfather’s friends Universities and getting bogus PhDs. Absurd thing all of them now professors and run few faculties. Take now Sri Lankan University teachers are going to do PhDs to Malaysia, India and Thailand. No one is going to get PhD to these countries. Take Malaysia anybody apply get PhD only they only look for money. Many countries are now not accepting this country PhDs. But UGC silent in Sri Lanka. With immediate effect stop and do not promote to do PHD in your own University. It is a joke and many cases husband offer PhD to wife. Around 20% University academic staffs are husband and wife and 67% have some blood relationships to each other. Say all the SL professors to show their 15 to 20 International journal publications and PhD. Now SL Universities academic staff is a mafia and private business. Take Higher education Ministry Sec. He does not have PhD degree but claimed it he even extend service to his friends in Ruhuna University after 65 years of age. Appoint corruptive people as emiritus.
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Abhaya / February 17, 2014
I have no opinion on this matter . There is a lot of internal politics in the University system .
lol may be there was no reason for me to comment .
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Native Vedda / February 17, 2014
Abhaya
Thank you for not expressing an opinion.
I am looking forward to the same in the future.
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JimSofty / February 17, 2014
I have heard from a very qualified African who worked even for UN could not get even a post doc position in a particular North american University – they asked research proposals and all kinds of questions from him – in order to get ideas from him but they did not give him any opportunity to him.
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thopithopi / February 17, 2014
“I am an engineer today because of him.” An academic is required to be “Honest, forthright, mature, clear thinking, direct, decisive, ethical, humanistic” … in academic evaluations by their universities. The above confession by his student shows that Prof’s heart is also in the right place. He has helped academics and non academics alike at OUSL and Peradeniya and been mindful of the rights of students and the safety of vulnerable students. Prof. Hoole must apply for VC again. Jaffna U. needs someone knowledgeable about the ideals of a higher learning institution to set benchmarks which sadly seem not to have ever been put in place there in its forty years of existence. Jaffna cannot risk continued messy administrations as all honest academics and students here would testify. Jaffna would benefit greatly at this juncture by an academic who understands higher education and is ever ready to sit and talk to all without partiality, bring ideas and funding, challenge our thinking for the better and help even undergraduate students publish as he has done.
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Amarasiri / February 17, 2014
Dear Arul K. Selvaratnam,
“Prof. Carlo Fonseka in his article admits to encouraging the Hooles to return and explains, “In a system with many mediocrities those of exceptional quality make the mediocre look ugly! So the mediocrities do their damndest to eliminate the truly exceptional.”
The losers are the students.
No wonder those who can afford, have good grades will leave to the West and advance.
Can understand why Prof. Hooole wants to come back and help the students It is good to expose such mediocrity, and will this improve the quality. No.
Only competition will improve the quality.
So what is needed is private universities, with higher quality and with better international connections. Something like the International Schools, with some subsidies by the state, for competition.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
When the uni fees in England increased the students screamed that stinking rich Indians from Delhi and the like of Gaddafi’s son were the ones benefitting. On the other hand when we see the Koreans, Japanese some from the continent also clamouring for seats in England when their standards are higher we wonder why? It’s just joining the club for future connections the boys and the girls. It’s a 6 billion foreign exchange business. It is hard for Lanka to go that way because London is where everything happens. the same is true of the US.
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Javi / February 17, 2014
“with higher quality and with better international connections.”
China has this sister universities from the best of Canada, Australia and they are expensive. This was to stop the cultural shock of astronaut families.
However the west is yet the magnet for these families with hidden assets overseas in offshore banks.
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Jayan / February 17, 2014
Recently I found some Senior Lectures in Sri Lankan Universities do not know what is an e mail and how to send an e mail.This is the real quality of Sri Lankan University Lecturers.
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Jaffna woman / February 17, 2014
An academic is required to be “Honest, forthright, mature, clear thinking, direct, decisive, ethical, humanistic” …
In University of Jaffna you should use the following terms which are more suitable … Arrogant, discriminatory, pervasive,indirect, unethical, inhuman….
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ken robert / February 18, 2014
Jaffna woman
This could be also applicable to some of my medical colleagues recently joined the medical faculty of the Jaffna university. I am not referring to my seniors who were there during the troubled times.
I believe this behaviour is a genetic defect!
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Agnos / February 18, 2014
The current state university system is hopeless and I would suggest that Dr. Hoole stay in the US until the political culture changes.
There used to be some private colleges that had agreements with US and UK universities to train students for the first two years and then send them to universities in the west for the rest of the program.
Maybe Dr. Hoole should investigate working with those to improve those programs and eventually making them full fledged universities that can shame the state universities into cleaning up their act. There will be protests from Marxists about private universities, but that should be managed and ignored. We need some of those two-year programs based in Colombo to work with the kids in Jaffna as well. So the NPC could negotiate with them to have branches in Jaffna.
Dr.Hoole should take the lead in this.
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Fathima Fukushima / February 18, 2014
As long as Tamils are in our universities they are cursed!
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Ramany K / February 18, 2014
Banda-Chelva pact failed
Indo-lanka accord failed
VC post through Douglas failed
VC post through Mavai failed
VC post through Angajan failed
WILL THE SECRET DEAL WITH MR BE SUCCESS?
Those who seek VC post through corrupt politicians,ARE THE ONES REALLY CORRUPT!
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Javi / February 19, 2014
I fully agree. They should keep politics out. They are talking of this professor who went to church got his qualifications and now demanding the moon.
I have seen this happen in several countries and it rarely works because there are always better people and he is not the exception.
If the missionary schools were there and may be the TRP holders then he would be just another average.
It’s the opportunity that makes things happen.
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Suntha / March 4, 2014
A people is free when their University is free.
A people has the educational right to have the minimum standards and improvement in quality. Therefore as stipulated in the constitution of the universities,the selection of VC/academics should strictly be by merit and ability, very transparent and free of meddling. May Jaffna protect and practice its academic freedom.
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rajalingam janahan / February 19, 2014
It is really sad to hear, We never going to change our attitude. He who always voices for the rights never let to leap to the front. The bunch of members whom think they are genius are really the fools of the land. We loosing a chance to get taught from a genius of the world.
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Javi / February 19, 2014
This is what one head (tech) told his students on his last lecture professional practice.
The ones in the front row always thought of leaping so they scored more and end up teaching.
The ones in the middle got their first and entered the profession.
To do both and excel one has to be somebody and I don’t know about genius.
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Jaffna woman / February 19, 2014
‘I believe this behaviour is a genetic defect!’
Dear Ken
I hope you might have heard about the story about ‘Paramarththa kuruvum seedarkalum’. Jaffna university is being managed by same kuru and seedarkal at present. Main research of Tamils should be focused on the above.
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Jaffna woman / February 19, 2014
Dear Ken
‘I believe this behaviour is a genetic defect!’
I hope you might have heard about the story about ‘Paramarththa kuruvum seedarkalum’. Jaffna university is being managed by same kuru and seedarkal at present. Main research of Tamils should be focused on the above.
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ken robert / February 22, 2014
Tamil woman
Medical faculty was blessed with dedicated medical researchers, scholars and gentlemen in the past.eg Late Professors Sivagnanasuntharam (Nanthi). Prof Saravanapavananthan etc
I believe it is important to discuss the shortcomings of the university and help this institution to serve the people of Jaffna.
I read and heard about the support groups ( alumni) of University of Jaffna But I fail to see any visible changes in the university culture.
I agree with Manushya Ariyawansa that the stagnation and inertia in the universities is a Srilankan Problem associated with family dominance, politics.
We are of course ‘a land like no other’ !
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Manushya Ariyawansa / February 20, 2014
Jaffna seems to be following the foot path of Peradeniya that was created by its former Vice Chancellor.
I am aware that this trend was initiated at Peradeniya University, somewhere in 2009, under the disable leadership of former Vice Chancellor, who grossly violated UGC circulars by adopting his own method of assigning marks to applicants at selection committees. Marks were assigned either by him or his henchmen whom he carefully selected as members of selection committees, through completely disregarding the marks given to applicants by external reviewers. He did this in order to favor his henchmen/supporters for giving them promotions and to harass/humiliate/deprive qualified academics whom he disliked. Through this process, nearly 10 qualified academics were deprived of their due promotions, as well as a few without proper qualifications were granted promotions. In addition to violation of UGC circulars, his practice amounts to the gross violation of financial regulations, as unqualified academics are being paid higher salaries, funds for which come from tax payers money. This could be easily verified by the government audits if they carefully went through the recommendations given by selection committees during his time. Finally the UGC had to intervene by issuing new circular letters and few of those academics are yet to receive their due promotions. If you type the name of the former VC of Peradeniya in Google Scolar, then you will get to know the true picture of his academic merits in terms of how many journal articles that he has published and when and where etc. The same applies to some of the academics who sat on Prof. Hoole’s selection committee too. By their standards, I am sure, Prof Hoole can be give 100 professorships. Nowadays, nobody can hide behind their “Prof” or “Dr” titles as they could easily be exposed through either carrying out a search in “Google” or “Google Scholar”. You may do your own research using these search engines that are easily accessible by the general public. Seeing is believing. Good Luck Prof Hoole. You only need the luck ( and not qualifications) in today’s context.
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R. Jeyhan / February 21, 2014
In all Sri Lankan Universities family connections, mafia and sex is the main operating mode in academic depts. Some depts are full with blood relatives as Lecturers. With immediate effect do not allow husband and wife and sons and father and son-in-law and uncle to work in same University to start to clean this mafia business. Higher education Ministry Sec. must be booked for using wrong Dr title which he does not have. His all advisers are just his friends especially fake Senior Lecturers from the Universities who appointed this Sec. as a Visiting Lecturer for their degree programmes. Recently I met aggressive lady without PhD or any single journal article in high impact journal but working as Chief adviser to Higher Education Ministry. God bless to Sri Lankan family business Universities.
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Hilmy / February 21, 2014
People who think they are the God given gift to rescue Jaffna University should not stoop to backroom deals with the powers that be to secure the VC post. Is a deal in the works for exchanging Jaffna VC post for Christian help at Geneva? In other words, is God going to play on Satan’s side for a while?
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Jaffna woman / February 22, 2014
Dear Hilmy,
Religion is not a matter here. Internal politics and backroom deals within the university is more popular and severe than the politics outside.
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Santahn / February 23, 2014
Dear All,
Please, kindly have look at present Vice-chancellor, Arasaratm’s, academic profile at the University of Jaffna web cite. She does does not have neither a singe publication nor postgraduate degree in bio-chemistry instead all her publication in that web cite refers to bio-technology. An interesting point in this scenario is that she is a Senior Professor in biochemistry.
A million dollar question is that what she has got to do with bio-chemistry? Bio-chemistry and bio-technology are same?
To be precise, what is bio-chemistry : Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. By controlling information flow through biochemical signaling and the flow of chemical energy through metabolism, biochemical processes give rise to the complexity of life.
What is bio-technology : Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful products, or “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use” (UN Convention on Biological Diversity).
On the whole what does it imply? I leave this question to readers.
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