Visuvalingam and Others v. Liyanage and Others – sllr 1983 volume 2 page 311

Brief
In the case between Visuvalingam and others (shareholders and directors of New Era Publications Ltd., publishers of the “Saturday Review”) and the Competent Authority under the Public Security Ordinance, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General, the court examined whether executive orders issued under Regulation 14 of the Emergency Regulations—prohibiting publication and use of the printing press for the “Saturday Review”—contravened the petitioners’ fundamental rights to freedom of speech, association, and lawful business. The court determined that the impugned orders constituted a reasonable exercise of executive discretion in light of the declared emergency and national security concerns. It was held that the statutory framework permitted the temporary restriction