Prof. D.G. Harendra de Silva et al. v. Hon. Pavithra Wanniarachchi et al. – CA WRIT/422/2020-2020

In the case between Prof. D.G. Harendra de Silva, Dr. W.M. Sunil Rathnapriya, Dr. U.M. Gunasekara (Petitioners) and Hon. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Hon. Dr. Keheliya Rambukwella, the Sri Lanka Medical Council, and others (Respondents), the court addressed the legality of the Minister of Health’s power to revoke appointments to the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), the lawfulness of a committee established to inquire into SLMC affairs, and the validity of subsequent appointments by the Minister. The court determined that the threshold for issuing notice had been met due to the presence of serious legal questions regarding ministerial authority and the process of revocation and appointment. However, interim relief to stay the Minister’s actions was denied. This outcome reaffirmed the principle