A higher diploma student has filed a compensation case against the University of Colombo administration, alleging examination irregularities that wasted his time, effort, and money, it was reported.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the petitioner, Sanath Kumara Athukorala, is seeking Rs. 5 million in damages. 

Nugegoda District Judge R.A.N. Rajapaksha has issued summons ordering the Vice Chancellor and seven senior officials to appear in court on September 10.

The judge questioned how students initially declared failed were later marked as passed without a re‑examination, directing the officials to provide answers when they appear. 

Summons were served to lecturers and administrators of the Faculty of Management and Finance, including D.C.L. Diyaguarachchi, W.P. Premarathna, Head of Department Sashika Abeydeera Manoratne, Dean H.M. Nihal Hennayake, Assistant Registrar Vajira Hapuhinna Jayarathne, former Vice Chancellor H.D. Karunaratne, current Vice Chancellor Indika Mahesh Karunathilaka, and the Attorney General.

Athukorala, enrolled in the Advanced Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, alleges serious unfairness in subjects 508 “Operations Management for Small Business” and 510 “Business Strategy and Sustainability.” 

He claims Diyaguarachchi demanded Rs. 80,000, which he refused, and later developed hostility toward him after a dispute during a workshop. He further alleges she unfairly awarded him low marks and revealed exam questions to other students.

After failing in January 2025, Athukorala says he complained to the administration, but by April 2025 new results showed several students had passed despite no re‑examination. He also alleges irregularities in subject 510, where Rs. 3,500 was collected from each student for a group project, but full marks were awarded even to those who did not participate.

He argues that arbitrary and unethical practices deprived him of success, and despite complaints to the university and the Bribery Commission, investigations remain ongoing. 

Athukorala insists the administration has not explained how failed students were later declared passed, accusing officials of fraudulent practices including awarding degrees to failed students.

The case will be heard on September 10, with the Vice Chancellor and senior officials ordered to present their responses in court. (Newswire)

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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)

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The University of Colombo has once again secured the No. 1 position among Sri Lankan universities in the Webometrics Ranking of Universities.

Globally, the University is ranked 1,745th among more than 32,000 higher education institutions (HEIs) from over 200 countries.

The Webometrics Ranking evaluates institutions worldwide using three indicators: Visibility (50%), which measures external networks linking to the university’s domain; Excellence (40%), based on publications among the top 10% most cited papers across 27 disciplines during 2021–2025; and Openness (10%), which considers citations received by institutions with a registered Research Organization Registry (ROR) identifier.

According to the University of Colombo, the university’s continued success reflects its dedication to advancing academic excellence and strengthening research influence. 

The top ten universities/HEI in Sri Lanka according to the July 2026 Webometrics Ranking are:

Source: https://figshare.com/…/Ranking_Web_of…/33062150  (Newswire)

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The University of Colombo has moved several faculties to online and hybrid lectures for one week after a surge in dengue cases among students.

Vice Chancellor Professor Indika Karunathilaka said as such, lectures of the faculties of Arts, Law, Management, Education, and Science have been moved to online and hybrid lectures. 

He said the decision was taken as the majority of patients are from the Faculty of Science, with 71 students contracting dengue and five currently receiving hospital treatment.

Indika Karunathilaka noted that rest is essential for recovery, and the online arrangement was introduced to allow affected students to focus on their health while ensuring academic activities continue uninterrupted.

The Vice Chancellor emphasized that the university has implemented multiple measures to control the situation and is closely monitoring the condition of hospitalized students. 

Indika Karunathilaka reassured that the situation is under control, urging students to seek medical advice if they develop fever symptoms.

Importantly, he stressed that the university has not been closed and there is no expectation of such a closure. (Newswire)

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Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has donated some books from her personal library to the University of Colombo Library.

Chandrika Kumaratunga said the donation included a selection of valuable educational and scholarly books. 

“I donated a selection of valuable educational and scholarly books from my personal library to the University of Colombo Library and spent a brief moment with the library staff. At this moment, I also recall with gratitude the support and coordination provided by Professor Jayadeva Uyangoda and Professor Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri,” she said in a statement on social media. (Newswire)

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The Police have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest conducted by university students near the University of Colombo. 

The protest had been carried out by Colombo University students blocking the road (138 bus route) along the university. 

Meanwhile, the university students have accused the Police of firing tear gas and water cannons inside the university premises as well. (NewsWire)

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Several school children have been affected after inhaling tear gas fired by the Police to disperse a protest in Colombo today.

The Colombo University Students Union engaged in a protest march today objecting to the Police firing tear gas inside the university premises to disperse a protest by the Inter-University Students Federation yesterday (07).

The Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters today as well after they had entered Cambridge Place, which is surrounded by schools.

However, several young school children had fallen victim to the tear gas attack by the Police near Cambridge Place in Colombo.

The school children were seen coughing and in severe discomfort due to being in the midst of the tear gas attack and were rushed back inside a nearby school. (NewsWire)

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The Sri Lanka Police has apologized to the administration of the University of Colombo for firing tear gas into the university premises while dispersing a protest march yesterday (07).

The Inter-University Student’s Federation (IUSF) conducted a protest march in Colombo yesterday and due to being prevented from entering several roads in Colombo, the protesters had gathered near the Colombo University.

As the Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters some had taken refuge inside the Colombo University premises due to which the Police had continued firing tear gas and water canons inside the university.

Members of the university administration and some students had confronted high-ranking Police officers on duty at the site and requested them to stop as some students who were undergoing lectures had been hospitalized after being affected by the tear gas. 

The Police thereafter extended their apologies to the administration staff and university students who had not been involved in the protest. 

Meanwhile, President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris has called for action to be taken against the Police officers involved in the incident. 

He said in a statement on social media that Professor Wasantha Seneviratne of the Law Faculty of the Colombo University has strongly condemned the tear gas attack yesterday by the Police on the students inside the Law Faculty of the University of Colombo.

“I hope the University authorities including the Vice Chancellor and the Dean of the Law Faculty will take a cue from Professor Seneviratne and take a strong position against this type of conduct by the Sri Lanka Police and insist that these errant officers be dealt with immediately,” he added.

Senior Lawyer Saliya Peiris added that unfortunately, the police have a sad history of impunity and as a result, there is a loss of public confidence in them. (NewsWire)

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