N. Anton Balasundaram on behalf of Devinyah Grace Jemima (Minor) vs M. Abeygunasekara and others – CA/WRIT/183/2019-2021

In the case between N. Anton Balasundaram (on behalf of his minor daughter, Devinyah Grace Jemima) and M. Abeygunasekara, Principal, Kandy Girls’ High School, along with related educational authorities, the court addressed the issue of alleged failure by school authorities to allocate Grade 1 admissions for 2019 in accordance with Circular No. 24/2018, particularly clause 4.2, which mandates proportional division of vacancies based on religious ratios at the time of school vesting. It was held that the authorities erred by restricting the “Christian” category solely to Methodist students, excluding other Christian denominations, and by misapplying mark deductions and appeal processes stipulated by the circular. The principle reaffirmed was that the allocation of school admissions based on