Janaka Pushpakumara v. Director General, Sri Lanka Navy Headquarters – SC F.R. APPLICATION NO: 452/2011-2021

In the case between Peduru Arachchige Janaka Pushpakumara (Petitioner) and the Director General (Electric and Electronic Division), Director General (Personnel and Training), Commander of the Navy, Lieutenant Commander T.R. Dahanayake of the Sri Lanka Navy, and the Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed the lawfulness of a discretionary decision by the Commander of the Navy to discharge the petitioner after his original enlistment period, and whether the absence of stated reasons for not re-engaging the petitioner contravened the constitutional right to equal protection under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The discharge was effected without supplying reasons, raising concerns of arbitrariness and discrimination. The court held that the Commander’s exercise of discretion was arbitra