Rathnappulige Sandun Chinthaka & Others v. National Water Supply and Drainage Board & Others – CA WRIT 289/2020 -2023

In the case between employees of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (including A.J.M. Rizwan, Saliya Priyadharshana, and others) and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board with associated officials, the court addressed whether a group of contract-based employees held an enforceable legitimate expectation—arising from Public Administration Circulars (nos. 25/2014, 25/2014(I), and 29/2019)—for conversion to permanent status, actionable by a writ of mandamus. The court held that while the doctrine of legitimate expectations was recognized in Sri Lankan and English administrative law, such expectation did not give rise to a legally enforceable right compelling the Respondents through a writ, in the face of overriding administrative and fiscal considerations. This decision relie