MoU between 'SAF' and the University of Moratuwa

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between University of Moratuwa, and the South Asia Foundation, for the establishment of Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asia Water Management (MCSAWM) at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

 
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the South Asia Foundation (SAF), a secular, non-profit and non-political organization, hereinafter referred to as the "SAF", on the one part,

AND

The University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, a University created by Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, located at Katubedda, Sri Lanka, hereinafter referred to as the "University", on the second part (hereinafter the SAF and Universities are together referred to as "Parties")

sets forth the agreements reached between the Parties relating to the establishment and implementation of the Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (MCSAWM)(hereinafter referred to as the "Centre"), which is drawn up for submission and approval of the SAF Governing Council at its Annual Meeting in ........

 
Establishment of the Center

The MCSAWM shall be established at the University of Moratuwa with the support of the South Asia Foundation (SAF), with the objectives of promoting regional cooperation through South Asian Water Management Education. The Centre shall offer Masters Degrees and/or Postgraduate Diploma Courses in water management subjects and will also conduct research in areas of relevance to South Asian Countries.

The University shall share, from its permanent faculty, five academic staff members (Senior Lecturer grade and above, inclusive of two Professors) who are employed from the funds provided by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (UGC), to carry out the activities of the MCSAWM in addition to their normal duties at the University.

The Centre will offer at least eight (08) fully paid Madanjeet Singh Scholarships, including travel, board and lodging and tuition fees, to South Asian students, one from each of the eight SAARC countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Besides the postgraduate courses on Water Management, the fellowship shall cover economy-class travel by Air/Rail and SLRs. 40,000/- monthly and a one time contingency grant of SLRs. 25,000/- to meet the living expenses.

 
Objectives of the Centre

The MCSAWM shall have two parallel approaches to achieve its cardinal objective of regional cooperation - one through academic studies and the other through research activities. A multi-dimensional approach shall create a hub of scholars that specialize in Water Management studies in SAARC and other countries, and at the same time promote international convergence of Water Management expertise in Engineering, Irrigation, Hydrology, GIS, Sociology, etc.

 
Organisational Structure:

 
The Board of Management (BoM) shall be responsible for giving direction to the functioning of the Centre. The Chairman of the Centre, in consultation with the Vice Chancellor, shall convene the BoM meeting at least once in each year. He shall present the Annual Report, the Audited Accounts, and also present the next year's Budget and Activity Plan for the approval of the BoM. The Chairman of the Centre shall be responsible for the entire functioning of the Centre and all its academic and extracurricular activities including coordination of courses, fellowships and pubic relations.

 
Academic and Administrative Staff

The academic staff shared with the Centre shall be assigned by the Vice-Chancellor with no additional expenditure to the Centre. The administrative and support staff and other extra services may be funded by the Course Fees as practised at the University of Moratuwa.


Financial Contribution of SAF

The SAF undertakes to contribute US Dollars Five Hundred Thousand (US $ 500,000) towards the establishment and operation of the Centre spread over a period of five years. The first instalment of the aforesaid contribution should not be less than US Dollars One Hundred Thousand (US $ 100,000). All expenditure shall be through proper approvals and sanctions of competent authorities.

All sanctions of expenditure after approval of budget by the Board of Management and the Council of the University shall be through the usual procedures adopted by the University as per University rules and regulations. All expenditure of recurring and non-recurring nature shall be met either by the University or from the US$ Five Hundred Thousand allocated by SAF over the five year period.


Personal Contribution of SAF Founder

The University shall construct a building for the Centre (MCSAWM) for which SAF Founder Ambassador Madanjeet Singh shall contribute an amount of US Dollars Five Hundred Thousand (US $ 500,000) from his personal account, and the remaining cost shall be funded by the University of Moratuwa.

 
SAF Regulations

In conformity with the SAF Governing Council resolution adopted in 2002 at Beaulieu‑surMer, France, the SAF shall not fund any project without at least a matching contribution in cash or kind against its financial assistance.

Before receiving due payments of subsequent instalment of funds, MCSAVVM shall submit an Annual Audit Report and a Progress Report of the Centre to the SAF Trustees. It is stipulated that SAF shall discontinue funding MCSAWM in case the Centre fails to fully comply with the SAF's cardinal objective of promoting regional cooperation as specified in this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

 
University's Contribution

To match the SAF's contribution and in conformity of the SAF Governing Council resolution of 2002, the University's contribution shall be :

1. Provision of necessary space for construction of the Centre building.
2. Expansion and completion of the partly constructed Rock Mechanics Laboratory building and conversion to the MCSAWM, using the contribution of the SAF Founder.
3. Sharing, from its permanent faculty, five academic staff members (Senior Lecturer grade and above, inclusive of two Professors) for the activities of MCSAVVM.
4. Provision of Internet, Library, on‑line journal access, Sports, Medical Facility.
5. Recruitment of Administrative and support staff required, as in para 4 above.
6. Any other logistic support needed from time to time.

 
Operationalization and Early Termination of the MoU

This MoU shall become effective on the date upon which the Parties append their signatures to it and continue to remain in force until either Party notifies the other through diplomatic channels in writing, by giving three months prior notice of its intention to terminate the MoU. The termination of this MoU, for whatever reason will not affect the rights of a Party, which may have accrued as at the date of termination and will not further affect any rights which specifically or by their nature would survive pursuant to termination of this MoU.

It shall be the responsibility of the University that this MoU is subject to examination by the Authorities of the University in relation to the relevant laws of the land and its confirmation that it has obtained all the requisite approval necessary, including the UGC and Government of Sri Lanka, if deemed necessary or that it is exempt from any such approval.

 
Variation in the terms of the MoU

The terms of the MoU may be modified, if and when required, by the consent in writing of the Parties.

In agreement of the above objectives and terms and conditions, this Memorandum of Understanding is hereby signed by the below mentioned Parties.

Done in duplicate on this Fourteenth day of October 2010, in Colombo, in the English language, both texts being equally authentic.

Shri Madanjeet Singh
Founder, South Asia Foundation (SAF).

Prof. Malik Ranasinghe
Vice-Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Chairman
South Asia Foundation-Sri Lanka Chapter

Mr. A. L. Joufer Sadique
Registrar, University of Moratuwa, of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

 
Appendix to the MoU between University of Moratuwa and the South Asia Foundation (SAF), for the establishment of Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asia Water Management (MCSAWM) at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

1. As regional cooperation is the main objective of South Asia Foundation, the SAF institutions of excellence shall annually offer at least 16 fully-paid SAF Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships.

2. At least 70% of the funds provide by SAF annually shall be spent on group scholarships and 30% on scholarship-related expenditure, comprising items such as the purchase of books, inviting short-term teachers and instructors from other SAARC countries, temporary staff for projects such as workshops, research etc.

3. Subject to the availability of funds, SAF institutions of excellence shall increase the number of scholarships, based on gender equality.

4. Any unspent amount of annual SAF grant shall be carried over to cover the cost of SAF Group Scholarships during the subsequent year.

5. In conformity with the resolution adopted in 2002 by SAF Governing Council, the institutions are obliged to contribute at least half the funds, in cash or kind, provided by SAF.

6. No SAF funds shall be spent on construction of buildings, repairs, maintenance and related infrastructures.

7. SAF annual installments of funds for the subsequent year shall be paid to the institutions on receipt of authorized auditor's reports, listing the names of students and itemized details of the expenditure incurred on each scholarship and the scholarship‑related costs (Art 2).

8. The annual reports by SAF institutions of excellence shall be sent to SAFIndia chapter, New Delhi, to be rechecked before they are forwarded to the SAF Trustees for subsequent payments.


Prof. Malik Ranasinghe
Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa


Shri Madanjeet Singh
Founder, South Asia Foundation (SAF)


Mr. A. L. Joufer Sadique
Registrar, University of Moratuwa