Can be accessed on the Grand Commission website as follows University Grand Commission

circular 69 (https://www.ugc.ac.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53%3Acommission-
circular-no-69&catid=39%3Acirculars-published-in-1980&Itemid=20&lang=en)

Vice-Chancellors of Universities
Director, Ruhuna University College
Directors of Institutes.

STATUS OF THE UGC AND THE HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

The opinions of the Attorney-General were sought as to:

1. Whether the University Grants Commission and the Higher Educational Institutions
were Public Corporations; and

2. Whether Circulars and Circular Letters issued by Ministries and departments

thereunder, containing decisions and instructions binding on departments, Public
Corporations and statutory bodies, were binding on the University Grants Commission
and the Higher Educational Institutions.
(2) In regard to the issue at (1) above, the Attorney-General has ruled that the University
Grants commission and each Higher Educational Institution is a Public Corporation
within the ambit of article 170 of the Constitution of the Democratic socialist republic
of Sri Lanka.

(3) As for (2) above, the Attorney-General has expressed the opinion that where such
Circulars and Circular Letters deal with the management of internal affairs of the
University grants Commission and the Higher Educational Institutions, the provisions of
the Universities Act, No. 16 of 1978 will supercede instructions contained in such
Circulars and circular Letters, but that it was open to the commission and the Higher
Educational Institutions to adopt and to act upon any such instructions as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of the aforesaid Act.

(4) The Commission will continue to adopt such circulars and circular letters which in
its opinion ought to be adopted and to inform the Higher Educational Institutions
accordingly.

( Secretary )
Commission circular 69- Universities are to be considered as public corporation