SC bars ex-Peradeniya professor from future academic posts over sexual harassment findings
The Supreme Court has directed that Prof. W. M. Thilakaratne, a former senior academic of the University of Peradeniya who was found guilty of multiple charges of sexual harassment by a university disciplinary inquiry, be barred from holding any future position in universities or academic institutions in Sri Lanka.
The ruling was delivered on 08 May 2026 by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Janak De Silva, Achala Wengappuli, and K. Priyantha Fernando in SC/FR Application No. 81/2021.
The Fundamental Rights petition had been filed by Dr. W.A.M. Udari L. Abeyasinghe, a Dental Surgeon and Senior Lecturer attached to the Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Science, University of Peradeniya.
According to the judgment, the incidents occurred while Dr. Abeyasinghe was serving as an Assistant Lecturer under the supervision of Prof. Thilakaratne, who was also her M.Phil co-supervisor.
The Court noted that the petitioner’s mother lodged a complaint with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya on 02 July 2018, alleging sexual harassment and emotional abuse between July 2017 and April 2018.
Following a preliminary investigation, the university appointed a Formal Inquiry Committee, which conducted hearings between July and September 2019. The Committee found Prof. Thilakaratne guilty of several charges, including cyber stalking, frequent hugging, touching despite objections, causing severe emotional distress, violating the university’s sexual harassment policy, and bringing the university into disrepute.
However, the University Council later rejected the disciplinary findings, citing delays in the complaint being made, and decided not to take action against the professor.
The petitioner subsequently complained to the University Grants Commission and later to the Human Rights Commission before filing the Fundamental Rights application before the Supreme Court in March 2021.
The Court upheld a preliminary objection that the petition had been filed outside the constitutional time limit.
Despite this, Justice Janak De Silva held that the Court retained powers under its “just and equitable jurisdiction” to issue directions in the public interest, particularly considering the seriousness of the findings against the professor.
The judgment noted that Prof. Thilakaratne had never challenged or sought to invalidate the findings of the Formal Inquiry Committee.
The Supreme Court subsequently ordered that Prof. Thilakaratne be prohibited from accepting any paid, unpaid, or honorary post in any university, educational institute, or academic institution. The Court also directed the UGC to instruct all universities and institutions under its purview not to offer him any appointment.
In addition, the University of Peradeniya was directed to strengthen awareness and enforcement of its policies on sexual and gender-based harassment, including conducting mandatory annual seminars for academics, staff, and students.
The judgment also highlighted Sri Lanka’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), stressing that sexual harassment creates hostile working environments and undermines equality in employment. (Newswire)
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