TRINCOMALEE: In a significant development, former Governor Azath Salley intervened to secure the release of exam results for 70 Muslim women and girls, whose grades were withheld due to a dispute over their head coverings during exams. The decision follows accusations of religious discrimination.
The controversy began in January when the students, mostly from low-income families near Trincomalee, took their A-level exams. To comply with regulations requiring visible ears to prevent cheating, they wore loose, transparent white shawls instead of tight-fitting hijabs. Although supervisors allowed the exams to proceed, the Department of Examination later decided to withhold their results, citing concerns that the hijabs could conceal Bluetooth earpieces.
This decision led to widespread outcry, with activists and teachers condemning it as discriminatory. They highlighted that Muslim girls, were unfairly targeted by anti-Muslim sentiment.
Salley raised the issue with the president’s secretary, Saman Ekanayake. Following an investigation, the Department of Examination determined that there had been misconduct related to the exam rules but decided to release the results. The students will receive their grades next week.
This resolution comes as a relief to the affected students and their families, who were at risk of being denied a university education. However, the incident has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the Muslim community in Sri Lanka and the need for measures that ensure fairness and non-discrimination in educational and other public policies.
While it is essential to maintain the integrity of examinations, it is equally important that measures do not discriminate against students based on their religion or gender. The rigorous searches already in place for all candidates should suffice without unfairly targeting specific groups. The release of these results is a step towards rectifying an injustice, but broader efforts are needed to promote harmony and reconciliation among Sri Lanka’s diverse communities.
