R.P. Sirisena v. A.A. Amarasinghe et al. – CA PHC/94/99-2016

In the case between R.P. Sirisena (Appellant) and A.A. Amarasinghe, Secretary, Provincial Ministry of Youth Affairs & Tourism, K.P.P. Ranjith Silva, Secretary, Provincial Public Service Commission, Hon. Governor, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, and others (Respondents), the court addressed whether a Provincial Public Officer, specifically an officer employed under a Provincial Council, falls within the definition of “public officer” under Article 170 of the Sri Lankan Constitution and whether the Provincial High Court is precluded from exercising jurisdiction over dismissals of such officers in light of Article 55(5). It was held that provincial public officers are indeed “public officers” under Article 170 and thus subject to the constitutional ouster clause in Article 55(5), which bars