Damayanthi Namalee Haupe Liyanage vs. Director General of Irrigation and others – SC FR APPLICATION NO.317/2010-2012

In the case between Damayanthi Namalee Haupe Liyanage (Plaintiff) and H.P.S. Somasiri, K.M.P.S. Bandara, D. Dissanayaka, Dr. G.G.A. Godaliyadde, and the Attorney General (Defendants), the court addressed the issue of whether a public officer’s fundamental right under Article 12(1) of the Sri Lankan Constitution (guaranteeing equality and equal protection) was violated by the administrative cancellation and revision of her salary scale following a delay in completing the Efficiency Bar Examination. It was held that the delay in qualifying for the Efficiency Bar Examination and related deferment of salary increments were lawful and aligned with existing statutory provisions, circulars, and administrative codes. The court reaffirmed that salary adjustments and any recoveries due to late exami