Jayaweera v. Wijeratne – sllr 1985 volume 2 page 413

In the case between Jayewera (Petitioner, an industrial gases distributor) and Wijeratne (Respondent, the Competent Authority/the Government Body as successor to the Business Undertaking of Ceylon Oxygen Co. Ltd.), the court addressed the issue of whether prerogative writs of certiorari and mandamus are available to challenge a termination arising from a contractual agency agreement between a public authority and a private party. It was determined that the dispute was strictly of a contractual nature, with no statutory underpinning or involvement of public law elements that would justify the issuance of such writs. The court reaffirmed that remedies of certiorari and mandamus are not applicable to disputes resting solely on breach of contract, even where one party is a public authority, re