W.M. Namal Sanjeewa vs. Neville Gunawardena and others – SC FR APPLICATION NO. 244/2012-2020

In the case between W.M. Namal Sanjeewa (Plaintiff) and Neville Gunawardena, Director General of Customs, along with other officials (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the marking scheme used at the structured interview for awarding marks for “achievements in sports” in the recruitment for Assistant Superintendent of Customs was arbitrary and violative of Article 12(1) of the Constitution. It was determined that the marking scheme was reasonable, the classification applied was legitimate, and there was no infringement of fundamental rights. The court reaffirmed the principle that reasonable classification in evaluation, based on objective criteria, does not amount to unlawful discrimination. This decision relied on established constitutional principles and prior standa