SC to hear former Moscow Defence Attaché’s son’s FR on university admission

Colombo, Dec 14 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the son of the former Defence Attaché to Moscow, challenging the decision of the University Grants Commission not accept his application to local universities.

The petitioner, Damsith Jayarathne, whilst being a student of Royal College, had accompanied his father Group Captain Saroj Jayarathne together with his family when he was appointed as Defence Attaché to Moscow in July 2023. 

The petitioner thereafter schooled in Moscow where he completed the equivalence of the Advanced Level examination at the Indian School in Moscow and obtained 4 A grades.

The University Grants Commission permits students with Foreign Advanced Level equivalence qualifications to be admitted into Sri Lanka universities with the payment of a fee, if the children study overseas for a continuous period of three years. 

The petition said that the University Grants Commission made exceptions for children of those in the diplomatic service, including those recalled to Sri Lanka due to exigencies of service in two years to enter a university under this category. 

The petitioner said that however, due to his fathers original posting being for two years and because he was not recalled as a result during which time he completed the advanced level equivalent exam, the petitioner  had been rejected admission under the scheme allowed for diplomatic staff.

The petition said that many children of Defence Attaches who are posted for a period of only two years aren’t allowed university entrance as a result. 

The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal in the matter on the 13th of October 2025 and argument was scheduled to be heard on the 28th of November 2025.

However, owing to the public holiday, the case was not taken up on the day. It was thereafter heard on the 10th of December 2025 and was postponed to the 12th of January next year on priority hearing.

Counsel Hafeel Farisz with Nishika Fonseka represented the petitioner student and Deputy Solicitor General Ganga Waakishtaarachi represented the University Grants Commission.