Siddadurage Kalyani Silva vs Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital Board et al. – CA WRIT/35/2021-2022

In the case between Siddadurage Kalyani Silva and the Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital Board (including its Chairman, Directors, and other representatives), the court addressed whether the Respondents’ actions in suspending the post of ‘Staff Assistant,’ demoting the Petitioner to ‘Management Assistant,’ and reducing her salary grade violated the Petitioner’s legitimate expectation and legal rights. It was held that the Board’s reduction of salary was unlawful, lacking both procedural fairness and statutory or policy justification, and that procedures regarding changes in designation and pay require compliance with legal approvals and safeguards. The court reaffirmed the principle that administrative decisions must be grounded in law and proper process, emphasizing adherence to due pro