Sri Lanka, June 17 -- In a landmark judgement upholding the right to equal treatment, the Supreme Court, by majority decision yesterday, issued an order directing the Commissioner General of the Department of Registration of Persons to issue a National Identity Card (NIC) to a Buddhist Bhikkhuni, recognising her status as a Bhikkhuni instead of "Sil Matha".

Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and Justice Gamini Amarasekera, in agreement, held that the petitioner's Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Article 12(1) of the Constitution had been violated by the Commissioner General of the Department of Registration of Persons.

It was alleged that the Commissioner General (the first respondent), without obtaining verification from the proper author...