Ratinasirirajapaksha v. Ratinasiriwickramanayake and Others – sllr 1997 volume 1 page 384

In the case between Ratnasiri Rajapaksha (Petitioner/Mayor of Colombo Municipal Council) and Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and others (including the Minister responsible for Local Government), the court addressed whether the Minister is required to independently satisfy himself regarding allegations against the Mayor before effecting removal, even where an inquiry report has been obtained. It was determined that while an inquiry report by a retired judicial officer may provide evidence of misconduct, the Minister’s statutory duty under Section 2 of the Powers of Supervision of the Administration of Local Authorities Statute No. 4 of 1991 obliges a personal evaluation of the facts and individual satisfaction as to the sufficiency of grounds for removal. The Minister is not legally compelled to r