University lecturers who had gone abroad for higher studies and on seven-year leave owe nearly Rs. 2,000 million to the state after failing to report back for duty, COPE has been told.
Only 84 out of 617 lecturers had paid back in lieu of their expenses borne by the state, officials of the University Grants Commission said.
COPE instructed the UGC to charge the outstanding dues from the guarantors and report back within one month.
As many as 122 lecturers of Peradeniya University had not returned from their overseas visits and have to pay Rs. 237 million, and Kelaniya University lecturers owe Rs. 323 million.
COPE also raised the delay in the scrutiny of GCE A/L answer scripts.
President of the association of university lecturers Prof. Shyam Banneheka said they would agree to do the scrutiny work only after they were given a meeting with the president.
He said the Presidential Secretariat has informed them that an appointment would be possible after May 07 only.
