Premachandra and Dodangoda v. Jayawickrema and Bakeer Markar and Others – sllr 1993 volume 2 page 294

Brief
In the case between Mr. G. M. Premachandra and Mr. Amarasiri Dodangoda (petitioners, elected members from the Democratic United National Front and Peoples Alliance) and Mr. Jayawickrema, Mr. Bakeer Markar, and others (respondents, including the Governors and appointed Chief Ministers), the Court addressed the legality of appointments of Chief Ministers under Article 154 F(4) of the Constitution. The central issue was the extent of the Governor’s discretion to appoint a Chief Minister, particularly concerning the requirement to rely on clear, verifiable evidence of majority support among Provincial Council members. It was held that appointments made based on confidential or unverifiable sources, rather than sworn declarations and clear evidence, were unreasonable and did not satisfy e