SriLanka, Sept. 30 -- The Supreme Court yesterday determined that former Disaster Management Minister Abdul Hameed Muhammed Fowzie had infringed the fundamental right to equality guaranteed under Article 12(1) of the Constitution by misusing a vehicle belonging to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) for his personal benefit.

A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justices Janak De Silva and Arjuna Obeyesekere made the determination in an application filed by former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne.

Justice Janak De Silva, who delivered the judgement, directed Fowzie to pay Rs.1,664,334.93 to the Consolidated Fund within one month as compensation for expenses incurred in connect...