UGC Chairman apologises to SC over delay

University Grants Commission Chairman Gamini Samaranayake in an affidavit to the Supreme Court yesterday tendered his unconditional and unreserved apology for the delay in implementing the court order on the GCE A/L Z-scores.

The affidavit was filed through Attorney Gowry Shangary Thavarasha in response to being directed to show cause why he should not be charged with contempt of court.

On July 19, the SC directed him to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be instituted against him for not taking effective and meaningful steps to re-calculate and reissue the Z-scores without any unnecessary delay in compliance with the SC judgment of June 25.

Prof. Samaranayake said at all times, he had acted in compliance with the SC judgment as expeditiously as possible that there was no purposeful disobedience or delay in the implementation of the judgment.

He said he did not intend in any way to disrespect or undermine the authority of the Supreme Court and clarified that the media conference referred to in some media reports was summoned by the Higher Education Ministry as a matter of public interest to explain the steps being taken to implement the SC judgment.

Prof. Samaranayake said the media conference was attended by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga and himself.
He asked the Supreme Court to discharge him from contempt proceedings and asked the SC not to take any further steps on this matter. (S.S. Selvanayagam)