Sri Lanka, March 19 -- My tenure of office as Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo coincided with the most turbulent period in the history of the university system in our country. There was a near-total collapse of all systems, and the cost in terms of the loss of life, destruction of public and private property and disruption of all sectors of national life, was exorbitant.

As this time of upheaval drew to a close, the Government, in October 1989, appointed a Presidential Commission to examine, inter alia, "the causes of disquiet, unrest and discontent manifesting itself in the rejection of existing institutions and acts of violence".

As one of 7 Commissioners, I played an active role in the work of the Commission and the prep...