King Sasanka – Sri Lankan Writer & Retired Aviation Professional.

Justice Denied: The Rot Beneath Sri Lanka’s Prestigious Awards The recent incident at the Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya Colors awarding ceremony has gone viral, sparking widespread public outcry. While the optics are shocking to many, this is far from a new phenomenon in Sri Lanka. The underlying issues of favoritism and procedural failure have been documented for years, reflecting a "behind the scenes" reality that often contradicts the values these institutions claim to uphold. A Culture of Favoritism The blame for these systemic failures does not lie solely with the academia; parents are often equally responsible for fostering an environment where prestige is pursued at any cost. In a recent court ruling regarding a similar incident at a prominent university. In that case, an award was granted to a student described as an " apple polisher ," effectively denying the honor to the truly deserving candidate. Although the aggrieved student had the resources and c...