Court of Appeal rejects cancellation of Advanced Level Examination timetable

    A writ petition filed seeking an order cancelling the timetable released for the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination scheduled to be commenced on February 7 was today rejected by the Court of Appeal. Court of Appeal Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna observed that there is no sufficient material before Court to issue notices on the respondents. The Court of Appeal further held that the court has no jurisdiction for a judicial review regarding this application. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal decided to refuse the application in limine. General Secretary of Vinivida Peramuna Nagananda Kodituwakku filed this petition naming the Education Minister, Secretary to the Ministry of Education and several others as respondents. The petitioner alleged that holding the A/L examination without giving sufficient period to get ready for the students would violate students' rights to education. The petitioner was of the view that additional 20 weeks’ time period should have been allocated by the respondents for the A/L students in view of the obstacles faced by students due to the Covid-19 situation and trade union activities of the Teachers Unions. Meanwhile, two students who are expecting to sit for the A/L exam next Tuesday (7) filed intervening petitions seeking an order to dismiss this petition citing that the cancellation of the exam would deprive their rights to higher education. The intervenient petitioners were represented by Senior Counsel Chrismal Waranasuriya.