Pinnawala v. Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd. and Others – sllr 1997 volume 3 page 085

In the case between Pinnawala (petitioner) and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd. (1st respondent), the court addressed the validity of the refusal to grant a third extension of service to the petitioner beyond the age of 55. The primary issues concerned whether this refusal was a valid exercise of discretion or whether it was arbitrary, lacked a rational basis, and violated the petitioner’s fundamental rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution. The court held that the decision was arbitrary and constituted an infringement of the petitioner’s fundamental rights, reaffirming the principle that discretionary powers must be exercised fairly, with due regard to procedural fairness and state control. Reliance was placed on constitutional provisions and documentary evidence to conclude th