Academic and non-academic staff of local universities are currently allowed to go to the universities for research purposes and other essential work, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga said yesterday (5). The UGC Chairman told The Morning that academic and non-academic staff of universities are allowed to proceed with the essential work including those for research purposes managed by the respective vice chancellors of each university. He said that without permission from the Government, the UGC cannot allow students to come to the universities as there's a risk of being affected by the virus due to the large population of students in the universities. "We can't allow students to come to the university because in some hostels, there are nearly 8,000 students in certain universities. There are more than 6,000 students in the hostel complex of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and these students get together for team work, in canteens, and lecture halls, which can be a risk if the universities are opened. Therefore, only a lower number of academic and non-academic staff are allowed in the present to go to the university for essential work and research purposes," Prof. Amaratunga explained. By Agra Ranasinghe