Sri Lanka Thapal Sevaka Ekamuthu Sangamaya vs Ranjith Ariyaratne et al. – CA WRIT 222/2019-2023

In the case between Sri Lanka Thapal Sevaka Ekamuthu Sangamaya (petitioners) and the Postmaster General, Ministry of Postal Services, and associated government authorities (respondents), the court addressed the legal validity and interpretation of Postmaster General’s Circular No. 05/2019 (P‑6) in the context of previous circulars and the proper application of old and new service minutes for determining salary increments. It was concluded that the requirements for salary increments, specifically concerning the applicable examinations (Common Charge Examination versus Efficiency Bar Examination) and the effective date of service minutes, must be aligned with the statutory framework and cannot be applied retrospectively without explicit legislative authority. The holding established that Cir