W G Gunarathna vs Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs – SC F R APPLICATION NO. 288/2014-2020

In the case between Planning and Programming Officers (Petitioners) and the Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, among other public officials (Respondents), the core issue addressed was the legality of excluding Planning and Programming Officers from eligibility to sit the Grade III Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) competitive examination as stipulated by Public Administration Circular No. 22/2014 (“P 6”). The Court determined that the application was filed outside the period prescribed by Article 126(2) of the Constitution and had to be dismissed with costs. The holding reaffirmed that applications alleging a violation of fundamental rights must be filed within the constitutionally mandated time frame. Statutory requirements and relevant precedents relatin