Education

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Annuls University’s Gold Medal Decision Over Lack of Transparency

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has annulled the University of Peradeniya’s decision to award the prestigious “Professor E.O.E. Pereira” gold medal—given annually to the best student of the Faculty of Engineering in 2015—to A.H.A.D. Abeysekara, an advisor in the university’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Janak de Silva with the concurrence of Justices Sobitha Rajakaruna and Mahinda Samayawardena, followed a fundamental rights petition filed by Kalpana Manawadu, an engineering graduate from Moratuwa.

Manawadu alleged that despite submitting her application for the award in 2016, the university later altered the scoring system and awarded the medal to Abeysekara. The court noted that the university had failed to establish a formal and transparent system for evaluating candidates, thereby violating the petitioner’s fundamental right to equal treatment before the law.

While the court declared the university’s decision null and void, it did not order that the medal be awarded to the petitioner due to the lapse of the prescribed period. The bench also directed the University of Peradeniya to establish a proper and transparent system for awarding such honors in the future.

Reporter

Recent Posts

Sri Lankan Parliament Goes Pink to Support Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Members of Parliament and staff in Sri Lanka attended today’s (October 22) parliamentary session dressed…

47 minutes ago

Sri Lanka to Host “Sri Lankan Day” Cultural Festival in December 2025

The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved plans to hold a national celebration titled “Sri Lankan…

52 minutes ago

Sri Lanka to Sign UN Convention Against Cybercrimes

The Cabinet of Ministers of Sri Lanka has approved a proposal to sign the United…

57 minutes ago

Sri Lanka to Provide Shoe Vouchers for Students and Monastic Learners in 2026

The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has approved a proposal to distribute vouchers for…

60 minutes ago

Sri Lanka and Belize Establish Diplomatic Relations

The Governments of Sri Lanka and Belize have officially established diplomatic relations, effective October 21,…

6 hours ago

Sri Lanka Introduces New Pricing Formula for Pharmaceutical Drugs

Sri Lanka’s Parliament has approved a new pricing formula for pharmaceutical drugs, aimed at regulating…

7 hours ago