Court order to send Bio student to Medical

The Court of Appeal has issued a writ order to the University Grants Commission, instructing them to provide an opportunity for a talented student, who was initially selected to study Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Colombo, to be admitted to the Faculty of Medicine at Uva Wellassa University. The court issued this order after considering a writ petition filed by the student regarding an injustice he had suffered and announcing its decision.

This legal action was initiated by a young man named Chathura Das Mendis, an alumnus of Ananda College, Colombo. Although he had excelled in the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination, securing two "A" passes and one "B" pass, and had applied for a medical degree, he was initially selected for the Biochemistry course at the University of Colombo. However, he had demonstrated to the court that he was qualified to study for a medical degree under the special talents admission scheme, as he had achieved numerous local and international accomplishments, including the State Literary Award and the award for the best speaker in the National Oratory Competition.

The relevant decision was announced by Justice Dr. Sumudu Premachandra, with the concurrence of Court of Appeal Judge R. Gurusinghe, who heard the petition. The court emphasized that considering the special talents and circumstances of the petitioner student, it was observed that an injustice had occurred to him. Accordingly, the bench invalidated the decision to admit him to the University of Colombo and ordered the University Grants Commission to take immediate steps to admit him to the medical degree program at Uva Wellassa University.

During this court hearing, President's Counsel Manohara de Silva, along with Attorney-at-Law Dilmini de Silva, appeared on behalf of the petitioner student, under the instructions of Attorney-at-Law Anusha Perusinghe. Deputy Solicitor General Chaya Sri Nammuni presented arguments before the court on behalf of the respondent party.