September 18, Colombo (LNW): A student from Bandarawela has taken legal action against the University Grants Commission (UGC), alleging that he was unjustly denied the opportunity to pursue higher education in technology solely due to him being differently-abled.
The case, now before the Supreme Court, raises critical questions about inclusivity and equal access to education within Sri Lanka’s university admissions system.
The petitioner, Manujaya Attanayake, a recent school leaver from Dharmapala College in Bandarawela, claims that despite meeting the academic requirements for university entry through the GCE Advanced Level examination in the Technology stream, he was refused admission on the grounds that no facilities or provisions existed to accommodate disabled students in that particular programme.
The matter was recently brought before a bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Shiran Gooneratne, who have scheduled the case to be supported on February 24 next year.
In his petition, Attanayake argues that the decision taken by the UGC constitutes a violation of his constitutional rights, specifically the right to equal treatment and access to education irrespective of physical ability.
He maintains that his exclusion from the degree programme was not based on academic performance or merit but rather on an arbitrary interpretation of administrative regulations regarding disability.
He is now urging the Court to intervene by recognising the infringement of his fundamental rights and compelling the relevant authorities to offer him a placement in the technology degree programme for the 2024/2025 academic year.
