No changes to 2013 law exam

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

Our Lobby Correspondent

Proposed changes in the Sri Lanka Law College entrance examination for 2013 will not be enforced as planned but will be reconsidered at the Council of Legal Education to make sure that such changes will not hamper certain segments in the student community and will be fair for all, confirmed Minister of Justice Rauf Hakeem in response to questions raised by Democratic National Alliance MP Anura Dissanayake.

“The Law College guides almost 8,000 students to follow the examination, and only select 225 to be legal professionals. Prior to 1999, the entrance was based on two question papers, which tested language ability, IQ and general knowledge. Due to criticism highlighting that such competitive examinations prevented rural students from entering the Sri Lanka Law College, a new question paper based on the legal knowledge was introduced. This was the same mechanism that was in use until today. “However, six months before the entrance examination scheduled for August 2013, it was notified that the entrance examination question paper would be reverted to the pervious method – a test based on language, IQ and general knowledge. This has pushed the students preparing for the entrance examination into serious difficulty. They were preparing for the old system and six months before the examination was held, they were informed of the change in the system.

“If such change is necessary, a period of two years needs to be provided at least. I need the Minister to explain the requirement for going back to the previous system? Who recommended such a change? Such a change, will it create a disadvantage for the rural students? Instead of changing the system six months before the examination, could you postpone it?” asked MP Dissanayake.

“Not only you but large numbers of students also met me regarding the same issue. I have discussed the same with the Chief Justice, who is the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education. We have considered this change and feel it is required in the current context. However, we will continue further discussions with the council to make sure that such a change will be fair to all students. Please be patient till the final decision is reached,” responded Minister Hakeem.