Dayarathna and Others v. Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine and Others – sllr 1999 volume 1 page 393

In the case between Dayarathna and Others (petitioners) and the Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine and Others (respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the abrupt change in government policy regarding a training scheme for Assistant Medical Officers resulted in a violation of the petitioners’ fundamental rights under Article 12(1) of the Constitution, specifically by frustrating their legitimate expectations. It was held that the petitioners’ legitimate expectations, based on a published government advertisement and their successful completion of a qualifying examination, were adversely affected without being afforded a fair opportunity to be heard. The principle reaffirmed is that the executive is required to act fairly, observe procedural rights, and ensure equal tr