<b>Kalmunai girl wants Colombo, rejects Jaffna</b>

Laila Nasry - The Sunday Times

A Kalmunai student who had obtained three As and one B at the G.C.E. Advanced Level, examinations has petitioned the Supreme Court, alleging she had been wrongfully discriminated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the assignment of universities.

The Bench comprising Justices Mark Fernando, J.A.N. de Silva and T.B. Weerasuriya granted leave to proceed.

The matter was fixed to be called on July 30 to ascertain whether a settlement is possible. If no settlement is possible the case will be heard on September 4. Petitioner Pathmadas Muriel Kavitha alleges that her preference was the University of Colombo to follow her medical studies but the UGC has assigned her the University of Jaffna.

Claiming that Muslim students who obtained marks lower than her from the same district have been given their first preference, she alleges that she has been racially discriminated against because she is a Tamil. In her petition she states the criteria for the selection of the university is that those who come within the first 10% of the marks for a particular course are offered the university of their choice whilst the others are assigned a university according to the order of marks, order of preference indicated by the candidate and according to the district from which the student has been selected.

Courtesy - The Sunday Times