J. A. Saman Kumara vs. General Manager, Sri Lanka Government Railways and Others – SC/FR/APPLICATION NO. 591/2008-2021

In the case between J. A. Saman Kumara (Plaintiff) and multiple respondents including the Sri Lanka Government Railways and the Ministry of Transport (Defendants), the court addressed whether the petitioner’s fundamental rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution had been infringed. Allegations centered on an asserted arbitrary demotion from Grade II to Grade III in the Station Masters Cadre following the implementation of Public Administration Circular 06/2006, which introduced a new salary and grade structure. The findings established that the re-categorization and salary conversion were based on the objective criterion of years of satisfactory service, and not carried out arbitrarily or in violation of equality before the law. In dismissing the application, the judgment reaffirmed t