In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has ruled against the University of Peradeniya’s controversial decision to award the prestigious Professor E.O.E. Pereira Gold Medal to an academic instead of the rightful student candidate, exposing serious flaws in the university’s award process.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice Janak de Silva along with Justices Sobitha Rajakaruna and Mahinda Samayawardena, delivered a strong rebuke to the university administration, declaring that the decision taken in 2015 to grant the medal to A.H.A.D. Abeysekara, an instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, was unlawful and violated the fundamental rights of petitioner Kalpana Manawadu.
Kalpana, an engineering graduate from Moratuwa, filed a fundamental rights petition after her application for the prestigious medal was rejected under questionable circumstances. She pointed out that she had applied for the medal on March 9, 2016, but the university later changed the scoring system, compelling her to reapply. Despite this, the medal was awarded to Abeysekara, who was already employed as an advisor in the Electrical Engineering Department, raising serious concerns over impartiality and fairness.
The Supreme Court found that the university failed to apply a clear, consistent, and transparent scoring system in awarding the medal. In its judgment, the court stated that Kalpana’s constitutional right to equal treatment before the law had been violated, establishing that the awarding process was arbitrary and discriminatory.
The ruling nullified the university’s decision to award the medal to Abeysekara. However, the court clarified that due to the lapse of the prescribed time period, it would not issue an order to directly grant the medal to Kalpana. Instead, the judges emphasized the need for systemic reform, ordering the University of Peradeniya to establish a formal, transparent, and accountable process for future gold medal awards to ensure that no student suffers such injustice again.
The judgment highlights a broader issue within Sri Lanka’s higher education system: the lack of transparency in merit-based awards and recognition. Students who dedicate years to academic excellence often find their efforts undermined by opaque administrative decisions. This case not only delivers justice to the petitioner but also sets a precedent for ensuring integrity and accountability in academic recognition.
The ruling is also a reminder to university administrations across the country that merit cannot be manipulated, and processes must remain free from bias or undue influence. With this decision, the Supreme Court has reinforced the principle that students are entitled to fairness and transparency in every aspect of their academic journey.
For Kalpana, while the medal itself will not be awarded due to procedural limitations, the victory lies in having her rights recognized and protected at the highest judicial level. For Sri Lanka’s education sector, the judgment serves as a wake-up call: integrity in awarding academic honors is not optional, but a legal and moral obligation.
