Elayadura Prasad Senadara De Silva v. Hon. Gamini Lokuge and others – SC/FRA/0045/2022-2025

In the matter of 22 Chief Inspectors of Police (Petitioners) and the 48th Respondent, the court addressed the issue of an allegedly arbitrary backdated promotion. The court held that the Cabinet’s decision to backdate the promotion was not a legitimate policy decision and infringed upon the Petitioners’ fundamental rights. This decision reaffirmed the principle that policy decisions must be general and not ad-hoc for specific individuals. The ruling relied on constitutional provisions concerning promotion powers and judicial precedents, emphasizing that arbitrary administrative actions violate the principle of equal protection of law.

M. Sampath K. B. Wijeratne J. – The main judgment detailed the factual background concerning the backdated promotion of the 48th Respondent, which was cha