Karunakalage Sanumi Tarinya de Silva vs. Professor G. L. Peiris, Hon. Minister of Education and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO. 451/2020-2022

In the case between Karunakalage Sanumi Tarinya de Silva (plaintiff) and Professor G. L. Peiris, Hon. Minister of Education, Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission, and others (defendants), the court addressed the legality of the District Merit based quota system, constituting 55% of admissions to Sri Lankan university medical faculties. The petitioner challenged the fairness and constitutionality of this quota, seeking writs of prohibition and mandamus, focusing exclusively on the District based admission scheme. The court held that the petition was maintainable and that all preliminary objections, including those on standing, futility, laches, and non-joinder of parties, were overruled. It was reaffirmed that substantive justice and access to courts should not be defeated by