Sri Lankan Student Faces Visa Crisis in UK after One-Day Tuition Delay Triggers Course Removal

Sri Lankan Student Faces Visa Crisis After One-Day Tuition Delay Triggers Course Removal at UK University A Sri Lankan student says her academic future has been upended after a one-day delay in her tuition fee payment led to her removal from her degree programme and placed her at risk of deportation from the United Kingdom. Navodya De Silva, 25, who enrolled at Coventry University to study international hospitality and tourism management, claims she is now facing life-changing consequences after what she describes as a minor banking delay beyond her control. The three-year undergraduate programme costs £42,000 in total, funded by her father, who reportedly used his life savings to support her studies. De Silva’s long-term ambition was to return to Sri Lanka and build a career in the country’s tourism sector after completing a UK degree. Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on tourism, and De Silva had viewed her education in the UK as a stepping stone toward securing senior roles in the industry upon her return home. A single day that changed everything De Silva began her studies in October 2024 and successfully completed her first year. However, difficulties arose at the start of her second year when she was required to pay an £8,000 tuition instalment by 6 October 2025. She says she initiated the transfer on 3 October, well ahead of the deadline, but the payment did not reach the university’s account until 7 October due to delays in the processing system—one day after the cut-off point. Despite the short delay, the university reportedly informed the UK Home Office, which led to the termination of her student visa sponsorship. As a result, De Silva was removed from her course and is now awaiting a decision on her application for further leave to remain in the UK. A...