Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Ranjith Madduma Bandara vs K. M. Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance and others – SC FR 69/2023-2024

Brief
In the case between petitioners, including political party leaders and civil society organizations, and respondents such as the Secretary to the Treasury, the Ministry of Finance, the Election Commission, and the Attorney General, the Supreme Court addressed the legality of failing to release funds and conduct the Local Government Elections 2023. The applications questioned whether such actions violated fundamental rights under Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(a) of the Constitution, and examined the executive’s duties concerning the scheduling, planning, and funding of elections. The Court determined that the executive’s actions, including the decisions by the Election Commission and by the President acting as Minister of Finance, violated constitutionally protected rights by delaying the e