Seelanga Durage Laxman Wickramasinghe v. Air Martial Gagana Bulathsinghala et al. – CA WRIT/87/2015-2017

In Seelanga Durage Laxman Wickramasinghe v. Air Martial Gagana Bulathsinghala, Commander of Air Force, Sri Lanka Air Force and Others, the court addressed the legality of the discharge “with disgrace” of a long-serving Air Force airman by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The key issue was whether the Commander’s action was authorized by the Air Force Act and its regulations, especially where only forfeiture of seniority had been recommended after a summary trial. Upon examination, it was held that such discharge was permissible only in specific, regulated circumstances that were not present in this case. The holding reaffirmed the principle that disciplinary discretion is subject to statutory procedure and cannot be exercised arbitrarily on the basis of a summary trial. Relevant s