Information on these specific subjects could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. However, the following information may be of interest.

An official at the High Commission for the Republic of Sri Lanka in Ottawa stated during a personal interview conducted on 1 August 1995 and a following telephone interview conducted on 4 August 1995 that admission to universities in Sri Lanka is determined by the University Grants Commission (UGC), a government body in charge of university admission. According to this official, the UGC admits students on the basis of the results obtained on the university admission exam called the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level Examination. Only students who have attained the highest marks at the GCE Advanced Level Examination are selected by the UGC for university admission. The same official added that the selection for university admission is also dependent on the ethnicity of the student and the district of residence. Students who passed the GCE Advanced Level Examination but who are not selected for university admission can obtain a degree by sitting for the examination conducted by the university. These students will be considered as external candidates. External candidates can sit exams at universities but cannot attend courses offered by the universities or obtain financial assistance from the government.

To apply for university, students must have completed their secondary schooling. They must fill out an application form certified by their school principal, and submit it to the UGC along with, among other documents, copies of their birth certificate and their National Identity Card (NIC).

The GCE Advanced Level Examination is a test on four subjects selected by the applicants from a list of more than fifty proposed by the Ministry of Education. Students must obtain the minimum marks required on three out of four subjects and 25 per cent on the fourth subject. The GCE Advanced Level Examinations are conducted by the Commissioner of Examinations and the results are forwarded to the UGC for selection.

The results are communicated to the candidates by registered mail and those who are selected can report for registration to the university at the date indicated in the letter.

Students who have completed their first year examination can ask for a transfer to another university.

For background information on the university system in Sri Lanka as well as reports on difficulties encountered by students from Jaffna when applying for admission to university, please refer to the attachments.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

High Commission for the Republic of Sri Lanka, Ottawa. 4 August 1995. Telephone interview with official.

_____. 1 August 1995. Personal interview with official.

Human Rights in Developing Countries Yearbook 1994. 1994. Edited Peter Baehr and al. Oslo: Nordic Human Rights Publications, pp. 385-386.

Sri Lanka: A Country Study. 1990. Edited by Russell R. Ross and Andrea Matles Savada. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army, pp. 102-108.

Sri Lanka Information Monitor (INFORM). March 1995. Situation Report. Colombo: INFORM, p. 9.

Tamil Information [London]. March-April 1995. No. 44 and 45. "Jaffna Student Protests," p. 7.

_____. January-February 1995. "Education in Jaffna," p. 3.

_____. October 1993. No. 27. "Tamils Discriminated in Higher Education," pp. 1-2.

Vije, Mayan. June 1993. Sri Lanka: Economic Blockade. London: Tamil Information Centre, pp. 10-11.

FBIS Daily Reports. 1991-present.

On-line searches.

Oral Sources.