Manimandre Arachilage Suneetha Kalyani de Silva vs S.J.B. Suwaris and others – 119/2015-2025

The case involved Petitioners, Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were engaged in religious community service and were arrested, had their literature confiscated, and were detained. The primary issue was the alleged infringement of their fundamental rights. The court determined that while the Petitioners’ activities did not fall under freedom of religion as external manifestation under Article 10, their fundamental rights against arbitrary arrest under Article 13(1) and rights to equality and non-discrimination under Articles 12(1) and 12(2) were infringed by the 1st Respondent. No infringement was found by the 2nd Respondent. Compensation was awarded to the Petitioners.

Janak De Silva, J. – Delivered the main judgment, consolidating four cases. The Petitioners’ engagement in door-to-door religious