Thavaneethan v. Dayananda Dissanayake Commissioner of Elections and Others – sllr 2003 volume 1 page 074

In the case between Thavaneethan (Petitioner) and Dayananda Dissanayake, Commissioner of Elections (Respondents), the court addressed the lawfulness of the closure of entry points in Batticaloa and Vanni, which prevented approximately 55,000 voters from accessing polling stations. It was held that the restrictions imposed—combined with selective voting arrangements permitting only a few VVIPs and VIPPs to vote at residences—were unlawful and constituted a violation of fundamental rights. The principle of non-discrimination and protection of constitutional rights under Articles 12 and 14 was reaffirmed. The decision relied on the Constitution of Sri Lanka and relevant sections of the Parliamentary Elections Act, underscoring that arbitrary and politically-influenced government measures infr