Gooneratne v Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation – CA 412/07-2007

In the case between N. V. Gooneratne (petitioner/former General Manager, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation) and Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation & others (including the Chairman and senior officers), the court addressed the lawfulness and proportionality of the petitioner’s compulsory retirement. It was held that the disciplinary process was marred by procedural improprieties and that the penalty imposed—compulsory retirement—was disproportionately severe given the mitigating circumstances. The principle reaffirmed was the need for proportionality and procedural fairness in disciplinary proceedings concerning public/statutory corporation employees. This decision was grounded on established administrative law doctrines, emphasizing that disciplinar