The SC delivered its verdict of the petition, in which she said she had been suspended in an act of revenge after she had revealed to the media many acts of corruption committed by the principal of the school.

Ruling the suspension breached the petitioner’s right to freedom of opinion, the SC ordered the respondents, principal Premalal Kumarasiri and a teacher Thusitha Malagoda, to pay Rs. 100,000 each as compensation.

Commenting on the verdict, CTU secretary Joseph Stalin told BBC Sandeshaya that it was a significant victory for public servants.

“There are various restrictions imposed on public servants against speaking to the media. This ruling has removed such restrictions. We say that this has further strengthened the public servants’ right to freedom of opinion,” he said.

The government should take this opportunity to introduce amendments to the law to strengthen public servants’ right to freedom of opinion, Stalin added.