We write with reference to the article titled "What Happened to the World Bank Money" by Usvatte-aratchi, published in The Island on Saturday December 5th, 2009 and the article titled "World Bank Loan for University Education" by KDD, which appeared in The Island on December 10th, 2009. We hope you will publish the response of the Ministry of Higher Education, with the same degree of prominence as given to the two articles mentioned above.

In 2003, the government obtained US$ 32.7 million from IDA (World Bank) as credit for a project titled Improving Relevance and Education of Undergraduate Education (IRQUE), and the government counterpart fund was equivalent to US$ 7.2 million.( Total US$ 39.9 million.) The main focus of this Project was to promote competitive funding, under which the Universities under the University Grants Commission (UGC) had to forward project proposals to receive funding to improve the relevance and quality of the undergraduate programs. All Universities (except the Open University of Sri Lanka) and Advanced Technological Institutes of Sri Lanka under the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education – (SLIATE) were the beneficiaries of this Project.

About 75% of the Project funds were allocated directly to the Universities and SLIATE for Curriculum Revision of Undergraduate Program, Improving Teaching & Learning Process, Improving Student Learning Environment, Improving Facilities for Special Needs of Students and Staff, and Upgrading English & IT Skills among all undergraduates with a special emphasis on Arts students etc. The Project also provided funds for enhancing competencies of academic, administrative, and technical staff of the Universities.

The Universities have invested Project Funds to improve the facilities in IT, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Medical laboratories, through purchase of computers and educational software, equipment, text books and teaching materials. Using the Project funds, over 60 scholarships too were awarded to academic staff members of Universities to follow MPhil/PhD degrees in reputed Universities in many parts of the world.

Over 600 foreign and local short-term training opportunities were provided to all categories of staff in Universities and also SLIATE. They were trained in curriculum design, assessment methodologies, teaching methodologies, research methodology, procurement, financial management, English, IT skills, laboratory equipment maintenance, etc.

All the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of the IRQUE Project such as English language proficiency, IT skills, employability of graduates etc. showed an improvement during the Project period from 2003 to 2009 satisfying the targets.

The balance 25% of the funds was used for the following activities:

* Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) system for the University programs through the QAA Council of the UGC. This is the first time in the University history in Sri Lanka that comprehensive QAA activities were conducted by independent Reviewers.

* A Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS)

This has been introduced at National level as a planning tool for long term purposes and at University levels as a management tool for medium and short term purposes

* Monitoring and Evaluation, Policy Studies and Reviews etc.,

The IRQUE Project employed consultants both local and foreign including some short term consultancies awarded by Universities. These consultancies were concluded successfully. Thirty seven new courses of study have been introduced in the Universities by the UGC during the period from 2004 to 2009 but this is not an activity under the Project.

Usvatte-aratchi is making a serious allegation on corruption against Ministers and officials both past and present, without revealing the identities of the individuals along with the facts. If he has evidence against any individual or individuals, the Ministry can assure the public that a proper investigation will be carried out.

Finally we must say that it was the Ministry of Higher Education, with the UGC, National Education Commission, Universities and SLIATE that did the project preparatory work for the new Project to be funded by the World Bank, with the assistance of the World Bank.