Katugampola v. Commissioner-General of Excise and Others – sllr 2003 volume 3 page 207

The case between Katugampola (Plaintiff) and the Commissioner-General of Excise and Others (Defendants) addressed whether the Court of Appeal possessed writ jurisdiction in the context of a decision cancelling an examination for promotions, specifically if a writ of certiorari or mandamus could be issued. The court determined that constitutional provisions—Article 55(5) and Article 61A as amended—operate as ouster clauses that bar the Court of Appeal from reviewing decisions of the Public Service Commission related to appointments, promotions, and dismissals. This approach reaffirmed the principle that, where ouster clauses are present, jurisdiction is vested exclusively in the Supreme Court under Article 126. The decision relied on the interpretation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitut