Dr. Nalin de Silva v. Ranil Wickremasinghe et al. – SC FR APPLICATION NO.308/2015-2017

In the case between Dr. Nalin de Silva (Petitioner) and, among others, Ranil Wickremasinghe (Prime Minister) and DEW Gunasekera (former Minister), the Supreme Court addressed whether a fundamental rights application seeking access to the COPE interim report establishes a violation of constitutional rights under Articles 14A and 12(1). The claim was examined against statutory limits—including Article 14A and the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act—which explicitly exclude Parliament from the category of public authorities obligated to disclose information. It was determined that no legal entitlement exists for access to the information where the actions in question arise from legislative, not executive or administrative, functions. The application was dismissed in limine for failing to d