Ariyarathne and Others vs. Inspector General of Police and Others – sllr 2019 volume 1 page 100

In the case between Ariyarathne and others (former Graduate Scheme recruits employed as Development Assistants in the Department of Police) and the Inspector General of Police and associated public service authorities, the court addressed whether the petitioners’ fundamental rights under Article 12(1) and Article 14(1)(g) of the Constitution were violated by the failure to absorb them into the Sri Lanka Police Force, allegedly contrary to their legitimate expectation. The holding determined that the absence of specific assurances or established practices precluded any legitimate expectation for absorption into the Police Force. The court reaffirmed the principle that legitimate expectation arises only from clear and unambiguous representations or consistent practices by public authorities.