Pradeep Sanjeewa Samarasinghe vs The Associated News Papers of Ceylon Ltd. – SC F.R. APPLICATION NO. 361/2009-2010

In the case between Pradeep Sanjeewa Samarasinghe (Plaintiff) and The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. with its officers and the Attorney General (Defendants), the court addressed whether the petitioner’s fundamental rights under Articles 12(1), 12(2), 14(1)(d), and 14(1)(g) of the Constitution were violated due to an alleged arbitrary and illegal employment transfer. The inquiry centered on the applicability of the status of “Public Officer” and the relevance of Public Administration Circular No. 58/91, as well as the timeliness of the application under Article 126(2) of the Constitution. It was held that the petitioner did not qualify as a “Public Officer” and was therefore not protected by the cited circulars, and that the application was not timely filed. The principle reaffirmed i