Abeywardene v. Inspector General of Police and Others – sllr 1991 volume 2 page 349

In the case of Abeywardene v. Inspector General of Police and others, the court addressed the constitutionality of the seizure of jackpot gaming machines under Emergency Regulations which prohibited the import and operation of gaming instruments, except for state-sponsored lotteries. The court determined that such emergency measures did not violate the petitioner’s constitutional rights to equality and freedom to engage in a lawful occupation, as guaranteed under Articles 12(1), 12(2), and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution, since the operation of private gaming machines was rendered unlawful by these validly promulgated regulations. The findings established that legislative or regulatory classifications, even if not perfectly symmetrical, are permissible provided there is a rational basis relat