Seneviratne v. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation – sllr 2001 volume 3 page 015

The case between Seneviratne and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation addressed whether the Labour Tribunal could rely on oral evidence concerning the content and interpretation of crucial documents that were not formally tendered as evidence. It was held that judicial construction and interpretation of documents must be performed by the court upon direct examination of those documents, and not based on witness interpretation or oral testimony. The findings established that interpretation of documents is strictly a judicial function, reaffirming the principle that legal interpretation cannot be delegated to witnesses. Reference was made to the necessity for proper evidentiary procedure in tendering documents for tribunal or court consideration. The impact of the decision is to stress judicial over