Wickrematunga v. Anuruddha Ratwatte and Others – sllr 1998 volume 1 page 201

In the case between Wickramatunga (petitioner) and Anuruddha Ratwatte (Minister of Irrigation, Power and Energy), the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, and others, the court addressed whether the termination of the petitioner’s fuel dealership agreement by the Corporation was lawful or arbitrary. The court determined that the termination was unjustified, contrary to constitutional guarantees of equal protection and freedom to engage in lawful occupation, and was executed in a politically motivated and arbitrary manner. It was established that actions undertaken by the Corporation, though contractually framed, constituted ‘executive or administrative action’ and were thereby subject to constitutional limitations under Articles 12(2) and 14(1)(g). The decision reaffirmed that such executive acti