Apr 25, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Chancellor of University of Wayamba University, Prof. Lakshman Jayathilake as the Chairman of the National Education Commission with effect from yesterday, April 24.

Prof. Jayathilake, an acclaimed educationalist, was the first Chairman of the National Education Commission (NEC) from 1991 to 2001. He was one time Chairman of the National Institute of Education as well.

The NEC is the statutory body that recommends National Policy on Education in all its aspects to the government and it had been defunct since April 09, 2011 after the mandate of the commission members expired.

Media and education sector trade unions have criticized the government for not reinstating the Commission.

O.W. Ranjith Premasiri has been reappointed as the secretary of the Commission and the 16 members to the Commission are to be appointed in due course.