Rathnasiri Herath et al. v. M E Lional Fernando et al. – CA WRIT: 1591/06-2011

In the case between Rathnasiri Herath and others (employees/former employees of the Department of Railway) and M E Lional Fernando (Co-Chairman, National Salaries and Cadre Commission) and others, the court addressed whether the petitioners, absorbed into the “Basic Technological Service” and assigned the MN-1-2006 salary code, were wrongly categorized and instead entitled to the MT-3-2006 technical salary code, which would entitle them to a higher salary and designation. It was held that entitlement to the higher technical category required formal appointment under the defined public service structure and administrative guidelines, not merely possession of relevant qualifications or specialized training. The court reaffirmed the principle that classification and salary allocation in publi