Dr. Neville Fernando and Others v. Liyanage and Others – sllr 1983 volume 2 page 214

In the case between Dr. Neville Fernando and other shareholders of Janatha Finance and Investments Ltd. (the 6th petitioner company) as Plaintiffs and Liyanage and others as Defendants, the court addressed the issue of whether shareholders possess locus standi to claim a direct violation of their fundamental rights under Article 126 of the Constitution when the contested action (sealing of a printing establishment) is directed against the company rather than individual shareholders. It was held that an injury suffered by shareholders, when derived solely from shareholding, does not constitute a direct infringement of personal fundamental rights. The principle reaffirmed is that the rights of a company are distinct from those of its shareholders, and only direct rights violations confer sta