UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena is facing a severe backlash from his own camp over his critical remarks on the international school student who topped island ranking at the GCE Advanced Level examination. 

Senadhi Alwis of Lyceum International School, Panadura, topped the island ranking in the Arts stream in the GCE A/Level examination, last year.

"Free education is essential in ensuring children receive the opportunities they deserve. There shouldn’t be discrimination between local & international schools for national exams & if there are concerns they should be addressed without disrupting the children’s achievements," Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Parliamentarian Kanchana Wijesekera said, "Education is a right be it Free or Paid. Everyone has the right to choose and sit for exams. While more Funding and Resources should be given to Strengthen Free Education system, It is also necessary to acknowledge the Private Institutes and their students for their achievements."

Addressing a press conference in Colombo on Tuesday, Gunawardena hit out at an international school student becoming the island first at the GCE A/Level examination 2018. 

"This has never happened in the country's education system. International school students always sat for foreign exams while local students appeared for state exams such as GCE O/ Level and A/Level. From what I can see, the government has allowed international school students to sneak into the local education system," Gunawardena said.