Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella today explained his version of the recommendation he gave to an individual to be appointed as a Temporary Lecturer at the Kelaniya University, pointing out that he had merely exercised the powers he is assigned according to the Universities Act.

A media release signed by the Minister's Media Coordinator Rajitha Samarasuriya, said that the Minister had only asked the university to consider the qualifications of the said individual.

The decision to appoint him was one which the university was to make and the Minister is not interfering in that regard, the release also said.

Furthermore, the Minister argued that he is not even exercising his own powers, and therefore people have forgotten what he is entitled to do under the Universities Act.

The media release also claimed that the government had not removed openly pro-Rajapaksa lecturers from their posts, and they are leaking letters the Minister sends to universities to further their own political goals.