KAPS Angulugaha vs Air Marshal HD Abeywickrama – 439/2011-2013

In the case between KAPS Angulugaha, Group Captain (Temporary Air Commodore), Sri Lanka Air Force (Plaintiff) and Air Marshal HD Abeywickrama, Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force, Gotabhaya Rajapaksha, Secretary Ministry of Defence, among other respondents (Defendants), the court addressed whether the refusal to recommend the petitioner for promotion to substantive Air Commodore and the decision to forward retirement papers for approval was arbitrary, unreasonable, irrational, and in violation of principles of natural justice. The court held that both the non-recommendation for promotion and the initiation of retirement were unjustified and contrary to natural justice, granting writs of certiorari to quash these decisions. This determination reaffirmed the principle that public administrative