FR CASE BY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL It is Ms. Baranage and not Ms. Jayaratne

A dispute over the post of Principal at the Malabe Sri Rahula Balika Maha Vidyalaya has gone to the Supreme Court with a petitioner in a fundamental rights case alleging that a candidate who scored less than her at the interview has been given the job.

In the case to be taken up for hearing on November 6, D.S.S. Baranage who has served in the Principals’ Service for 15 years has cited Western Province Education Secretary S.T. Kodikara Deputy Secretary E.J.A.P. Karunadasa Provincial Education Director M.P. Illeperuma, Assistant Director L.M. Inser, Principal C.K. Wickramarachchi and the Attorney General as respondents.

In her petition Ms. Baranage says she responded to an advertisement for the post of Principal and was interviewed by a panel consisting of the Provincial Education Secretary Kodikara and Assistant Education Director Inser.

She says that after a long wait for a response from the interview panel she made inquiries and found that the post has been given to Mrs Wickramaarachichi, the sixth respondent in the case.

Ms. Baranage claims that the appointment of Ms. Wickramararachichi who has scored fewer marks than she scored, was a violation of her fundamental rights.

She requests the Court to stay the appointment of Ms. Wickramarachichi until the Court delivers judgment.

President’s Counsel Ali Sabry appeared for the petitioner.

The Sunday Times in its September 29 issue inadvertently reported that the petitioner was Sirimathi P Jayaratne, a former retired Principal of the school.