Padma Maithrilatha Akarawita vs Dr. Nanda Wickramasinghe, et al. – SC FR APPLICATION NO. 320/2007-2010

In the case between Padma Maithrilatha Akarawita, G.L.S. Suriarachchi, Chandralatha Colambage (Supra Grade Librarians) and state officials including Dr. Nanda Wickramasinghe (Director, National Museums), D.S. Edirisinghe (Commissioner General of Labour), and Mahinda Madihahewa (Secretary, Ministry of Labour Relations and Manpower), the court examined whether the reclassification of the petitioners’ salary scale to MN–7 (later MN–16) violated their fundamental rights to equality under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The petitioners contended that the salary adjustment, determined through Public Administration Circulars, amounted to a demotion compared to Class II Grade II officers of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS). Upon analysis of the relevant circulars and supporting docum