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 Lanka to Launch Major Loan Programme for New Entrepreneurs in January

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with local banks, is preparing to launch a…

2 days ago

Sri Lankan PM Highlights National Resilience and Digital-Economy Goals During Visit by Indian Tech Leaders

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized the country’s rapid recovery from recent…

2 days ago

Sri Lanka Secures USD 100 Million ADB Loan for Power Sector Reforms, Plus USD 3 Million Grant for Cyclone Recovery

Sri Lanka has finalized agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to mobilize a USD…

2 days ago

Sri Lanka to Provide Additional Mahapola Scholarship Payment for Students Affected by Severe Weather

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Higher Education has announced that an extra monthly Mahapola Scholarship allowance…

3 days ago

Sri Lanka Extends Application Deadline for Interest-Free Student Loan Scheme

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education has extended the application period…

3 days ago

Sri Lanka Postpones National Dhamma School Examinations Due to Severe Weather

Sri Lanka’s Department of Buddhist Affairs has postponed the annual Dhamma School examinations for Grades…

3 days ago