Rajaratne v. Air Lanka Ltd. and Others – sllr 1987 volume 2 page 128

In the case between K. M. N. D. Rajaratne (petitioner) and Air Lanka Ltd. (respondent), the court addressed whether the petitioner was subjected to discrimination in the recruitment process for the position of Flight Engineer, despite possessing superior qualifications to the candidate selected. It was held that Air Lanka Ltd. may be considered an instrumentality of the government, rendering its recruitment procedures subject to judicial review under Articles 12(1) and 126 of the Constitution. The findings reaffirmed the principle that state-controlled entities are required to abide by constitutional guarantees of equal protection in administrative actions. The decision relied on analysis of government shareholding and control within Air Lanka Ltd., emphasizing that discriminatory administ