You are here: Policy Universities Act Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978

University Grants Commission - Sri Lanka

  • English
  • Sinhala
  • Tamil-Sri Lanka

Universities Act - Part II

 POWERS, DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION


14. The succeeding provisions of this Part shall be without prejudice to the operation of the provisions of any other Part of this Act which confers or imposes on or assigns to the Commission any power, duty or function. Succeeding provisions of this Part not to prejudice the operation of certain other provisions.
15. The Commission shall have and exercise all or any of the following powers -  
  (i) to inquire into or investigate, from time to time, the financial needs of each Higher Educational Institution;

Powers of the Commission.

  (ii) to prepare, from time to time, in consultation with the governing authority of each Higher Educational Institution, triennial budgets for its maintenance and development, or for any other general or special purpose;
  (iii) to make recommendations, from time to time, to the Minister as to the nature and amount of grants, out of public funds, which it is desirable or necessary to make to each Higher Educational Institution;  
  (iv) to determine, from time to time, within the overall wage and salary policies of the Government, the quantum of remuneration that should be paid to different grades of the staff of the Higher Educational Institutions and the nature and extent of the other benefits that the staff should receive;  
  (v) to determine, in consultation with the governing authority of each Higher Educational Institution, the courses which shall be provided therein, and the degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions which shall be awarded;  
  (vi)

to determine, from time to time, in consultation with the governing authority of each Higher Educational Institution, the total number of students which shall be admitted annually to each Higher Educational Institution and the apportionment of that number to the different courses of study therein;

 
  (vii) to select students for admission to each Higher Educational Institution, in consultation with an Admissions Committee whose composition, powers, duties and functions shall be prescribed by Ordinance;  
  (viii) to determine in consultation with the governing authority of each University, the external examinations which it shall conduct for enabling those who are not students of the University or of any recognized institution, to obtain degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions of the University;  
  (ix) to formulate schemes of recruitment and procedures for appointment of the staff of the Higher Educational Institutions, and to determine from time to time, the various grades of staff and the numbers comprising each of such grades; [S 15(ix), 7 of 1985]
  (x) to determine from time to time - [S 15(x), 7 of 1985]
    (a) the structure and composition of each Higher Educational Institution established or deemed to be established under this Act or any appropriate instrument;  
    (b) the Faculty or Faculties, and the Departments of Study thereof, to be assigned to each such Higher Educational Institution; and  
    (c) the subjects or disciplines of study to be provided or taught in each such Higher Educational Institution;  
  (xi) to transfer or re-allocate the holder of any post other than that of teacher, students, equipment and other facilities of any Higher Educational Institution as may be necessary in consequence of any determination made under the provisions of paragraph (x); [S 15(xi), 7 of 1985]
  (xii) to investigate or to cause investigation into such matters pertaining to the discipline of the students, or to the academic, financial or general administration, of any Higher Educational Institution, and to take remedial measures; and [Inserted a new paragraph as 15(xii), 7 of 1985]
  (xiii) to do all such other acts or things as may be necessary for effectively exercising any of the powers specified by this act and for the attainment of the objects set out in section 3.

[Inserted a new paragraph as 15(xiii), 7 of 1985]

       
16. The Commission shall, before the expiry of a period of six months after the closure of each financial year of the Commission, transmit a report giving a full account of its activities during that year to the Minister who shall cause copies thereof to be tabled in Parliament. The Commission shall cause copies of that report to be made available for sale to the public at such price as may be determined by the Commission. Annual report of the Commission.
     
17. The Commission may by notice require the governing authority of any Higher Educational Institution to furnish to the Commission within such period as shall be specified in the notice, all such returns or information relating to all such matters as may be necessary to enable the Commission to effectively exercise, perform and discharge any of its powers, duties and functions under this Act, and it shall be the duty of that governing authority to comply with the requirements of such notice.

Power of the Commission to call for information and returns.

     
18. (1) The Commission may make Ordinances in respect of all such matters as it may deem necessary to enable it to effectively exercise, perform and discharge its powers, duties and functions under this Act.

Power of the Commission to make Ordinances.

  (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by subsection (1), the Commission may make Ordinances in respect of all or any of the following matters:-  
    (a) all matters to be prescribed by Ordinance, in respect of which Ordinances are authorized or required to be made by the Commission by any other provision of this Act;  
    (b) the terms and conditions of service of the staff of the Commission and of the Higher Educational Institutions;  
    (c) the schemes of recruitment, and the procedures for appointment, to the staff of the Commission and of the Higher Educational Institutions;  
    (d) the establishment and maintenance of standards of instruction in Higher Educational Institutions for the grant of degrees, diplomas, and other academic distinctions;  
    (e) the co-ordination of facilities in and around Higher Educational Institutions;  
    (f) the nature and scope of extension services which may be provided and organized by Higher Educational Institutions;  
    (g) the recognition of foreign degrees and diplomas and other academic distinctions; and  
    (h) any other matter connected with, or incidental to, any of the matters aforesaid.  
  (3) Every Ordinance made by the Commission under this Act shall be published in the Gazette and shall come into operation on the date specified therein.