A higher diploma student has filed a compensation case before the Nugegoda District Court against the University of Colombo administration, alleging serious examination irregularities that wasted his time, effort, and money, it was reported.
According to a report by BBC Sinhala, the petitioner, Sanath Kumara Athukorala, is seeking Rs. 5 million in damages from the Vice Chancellor and senior officials.
Athukorala claims that although he was initially informed he had failed an examination, the university later declared him passed without holding any re‑examination, even conducting a convocation. He questions how students first declared failed were subsequently passed without explanation, saying the administration has not provided a fair reason.
The case names lecturers and administrators of the Faculty of Management and Finance, including D.B.L. Diyaguarachchi, W.P. Premaratne, Head of Department Sashika Abeydeera Manoratne, Dean H.M. Nihal Henanayake, Additional Registrar of Examinations Vajira Hapuhinna Jayaratne, former Vice Chancellor H.D. Karunaratne, current Vice Chancellor Indika Mahesh Karunatilake, and the Attorney General.
Represented by lawyer Danosha Perera, the petitioner says he enrolled in the 2022/2023 higher diploma in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. While the first semester was problem‑free, he alleges serious injustice in the second semester, particularly in subjects 508 (Operations Management for Small Business) and 510 (Business Strategy and Sustainability).
Athukorala accuses lecturer Diyaguarachchi of demanding Rs. 80,000 through another student, which he refused. He further alleges that during a workshop in May 2024, Diyaguarachchi’s husband attended, and when he opposed accommodating him in his room, hostility ensued. He claims she later gave him unfairly low marks in subject 508 and even revealed exam questions to other students beforehand.
After failing in January 2025, Athukorala complained to the administration. By April 2025, new results showed he and others had passed, though no exam was held in between. Regarding subject 510, he alleges Rs. 3,500 was collected from each student for a group project, but full marks were awarded even to those who did not participate, depriving active students of fair recognition.
Despite complaints to the university and the Bribery Commission, investigations remain ongoing. Athukorala insists the university has not explained how failed students were later declared passed without re‑examination. He alleges officials acted illegally and fraudulently, awarding degrees to students initially failed, causing him humiliation among peers and loss of expected results.
He is now demanding Rs. 5 million in compensation, arguing that the university’s actions led to the unjust loss of his time, effort, and financial resources. (Newswire)