Centre for Policy Alternatives (Guarantee) Ltd. v. D.M. Jayaratne et al. – SC FR APPLICATION NO. 23/2013-2014

In the case between Centre for Policy Alternatives (Guarantee) Ltd. and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu (plaintiffs) and D.M. Jayaratne (Prime Minister), Chamal Rajapakse (Speaker of Parliament), Ranil Wickremasinghe (Leader of the Opposition), A.H.M. Azwer (Member of Parliament), D.M. Swaminathan (Member of Parliament), Mohan Pieris (President’s Counsel), the Attorney General, among others (defendants), the court addressed whether the petitioners’ fundamental right to equality before the law under Article 12(1) of the Constitution was violated by actions relating to the removal of a Chief Justice and subsequent appointments. It was held that the preliminary objections concerning Presidential Immunity under Article 35(1) and the constitutionally prescribed process for removing a Superior Cou