Samadasa v. Wijeratne, Commissioner General of Excise and Others – sllr 1999 volume 2 page 085

In the case between Samadasa (Plaintiff) and Wijeratne, Commissioner-General of Excise and Others (Defendant), the court addressed the issue of whether the refusal to grant the petitioner a liquor licence constituted a violation of fundamental rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. It was held that the Commissioner-General of Excise had improperly abdicated authority by relying on objections without exercising independent judgment, resulting in a denial of equal treatment and a violation of constitutional protections. The decision reaffirmed the principle that public authorities must exercise discretionary powers independently and equitably, without arbitrary or inconsistent application. Reliance was placed on constitutional guarantees and administrative law doctrines, underscorin