• Rate and calculation process to be discussed with stakeholders  

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is set to review the bond fee required to be paid by university academics when travelling overseas for studies and research, as per the directives of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), and will engage in discussions with stakeholders in the coming days before making a final decision in this regard.

It was recently proposed that a procedure under which university dons will be required to pay a bond fee when travelling overseas for studies and research be introduced, in order to prevent them from remaining in those countries. This proposal was discussed by members of the COPE and officials of the UGC.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (5), UGC Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge said that in light of the prevailing situation, the UGC is to review the bond and that necessary steps will be taken following discussions with the relevant parties, adding however that no decision has been made so far as to whether the fee would be increased. “We were advised by the COPE to collect a bond fee from university academics when they travel overseas for studies and research. There is no need to implement such anew since we already have such a policy. Accordingly, we are to review the current bond fee and the way we calculate it, after consulting all stakeholders,” he added.

However, it has been proposed to increase in the bond fee in parallel with the increase in the US dollar ($) rate against the Sri Lankan rupee. Accordingly, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) claimed that the proposed increase in the bond fee to be paid by university academics when travelling overseas for studies and research has led to many academics permanently resigning from their posts. Speaking to The Daily Morning last week, FUTA Spokesperson senior lecturer Charudaththe Illangasinghe said that the bond fee has been increased against the dollar rate and that many university teachers whose scholarships are given by foreign countries cannot afford this fee, since the bond fee for such scholarships is not calculated with the local currency.