Walbothalage Sayuki Lyensa Fernando & Walbothalage Saman Dharshana Fernando v. S.A.S.U. Dissanayake & Others – SC FR APPLICATION NO. 17/19-2020

In the case between Walbothalage Sayuki Lyensa Fernando and Walbothalage Saman Dharshana Fernando (petitioners) and the Principal of Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya among other educational officials and the Attorney General (respondents), the court addressed the issue of alleged infringement of the fundamental right to equality under Article 12(1) of the Constitution in the context of the Grade 1 school admission process. It was held that an error in the deduction of marks for the proximity criterion, arising from the misapplication of Circular No. 24/2018, resulted in the improper denial of admission to the petitioners and constituted a violation of constitutional rights. The principle reaffirmed is that the strict application of procedural requirements must not undermine substantive