Saranapala v. Solanga Arachchi, Senior Superintendent of Police and Others – sllr 1999 volume 2 page 166

In the case between Saranapala (representing Nava Sama Samaja Party) and Solanga Arachchi, Senior Superintendent of Police, the court addressed the legality of police-imposed restrictions on the NSSP May Day procession. The issue concerned whether the revocation of earlier granted permission, justified by the authorities as a security measure under section 77(3) of the Police Ordinance and emergency regulations, infringed upon constitutional rights to free speech, expression, and peaceful assembly. It was held that these restrictions constituted an unlawful suppression of fundamental rights, notably as evidence indicated that similar processions by other political groups were permitted, thus raising issues of unequal treatment. The principle reaffirmed was that limitations on fundamental r