The University Grants Commission (UGC) has appointed Professor Senaka Rajapakse, a distinguished clinical physician and academic, to serve as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, effective April 12, 2025. The decision was made by UGC Chairman Senior Professor Kapila Seneviratne under Section 34(9)(b) of the Universities Act, following the resignation of Professor H.D. Karunaratne upon the completion of his term.
Professor Rajapakse’s appointment comes amid ongoing investigations into several incidents at the university. He will hold the position until a permanent Vice-Chancellor is appointed.
An alumnus of the University of Colombo’s Faculty of Medicine, Professor Rajapakse graduated in 1993 with First Class Honours, securing distinctions in multiple disciplines and earning 16 medals, including the prestigious Sir Andrew Caldecott Medal. citeturn0search0 He joined the Department of Clinical Medicine in 1996 and has since held numerous leadership roles, including Head of the Department, Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), and Director of the Network Operations Centre.
Internationally recognized, Professor Rajapakse is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London and Edinburgh, the American College of Physicians, and the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka. His research, particularly in tropical infectious diseases, has earned him over 150 peer-reviewed publications and multiple accolades, such as the CVCD Excellence Award for the Most Outstanding Senior Researcher in Health Sciences in 2016. citeturn0search8
As Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rajapakse is expected to provide stable leadership and uphold academic excellence during this transitional period for the University of Colombo.
