Bennett Rathnayake v. The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Others – sllr 1999 volume 2 page 093

In the case between Bennett Rathnayake (Plaintiff) and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and others (Defendants), the court addressed the legality and fairness of the procedures used by the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation in reviewing, selecting, and scheduling the petitioner’s telefilm “Makara Vijithaya” for telecast, specifically under the lens of Article 12(1) of the Constitution. It was held that the Corporation’s actions, characterized by lack of transparency, arbitrariness in the appointment of film review panels, inconsistent application of procedures, and absence of clear criteria, amounted to a violation of the petitioner’s fundamental rights to equality and fair procedure. The court reaffirmed the principle that statutory bodies exercising powers over public resources must do