Commodore (Marines) P.A. Sanath K. Pitigala vs Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy – CA/WRIT/13/24-2025

In the Court of Appeal of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Commodore (Marines) P.A. Sanath K. Pitigala filed an application for Writs of Certiorari, Mandamus, and Prohibition under Article 140 of the Constitution against multiple Respondents, including Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and Temporary Rear Admiral H.S.K. Dissanayake. The petitioner sought to annul adverse promotion decisions linked to a 1996 AWOL charge, for which a guilty plea resulted in forfeiture of seniority and pay. The petitioner argued that the promotion board’s actions violated the Navy Act and related regulations, while the Respondents justified their decision based on a zero-tolerance policy for AWOL offenses and adherence to established directives.

Mayadunne Corea, J. concluded that the Promotion Bo