The Supreme Court has been informed of a possible settlement in the Fundamental Rights petition filed over the exclusion of local students from the MBBS degree programme at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).
The petition, filed by ten prospective applicants, challenged the earlier decision to deny local students admission to the KDU medical programme. Respondents named in the case include the KDU administration, the University Grants Commission, Minister of Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, and others.
When the matter was taken up before the three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Mahinda Samayawardena, and Justice Menaka Wijesundara, Counsel Hafeel Farisz, appearing for the petitioners, informed the court that the university had since reopened MBBS admissions for local students, paving the way for a potential out-of-court settlement.
He further noted that the petitioners’ final stance on the matter would be conveyed after written instructions are obtained from the clients. The court fixed the next hearing for July 24.
Counsel Hafeel Farisz, along with Nishika Fonseka and Shannon Tillekeratne, instructed by Shayamalee Athukorale, appeared for the petitioners. Deputy Solicitor General Nirmalan Wigneswaran represented KDU.
