Director General, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption vs General Anuruddha Ratwatte – sllr 2010 volume 1 page 220

In the case between the Director General of the Bribery Commission (complainant/appellant) and the Accused (respondent), the court addressed whether failure to issue a certificate or letter of dissatisfaction under Section 23A(4) of the Bribery Act constitutes a patent lack of jurisdiction and clarified the statutory interpretation of an “opportunity to show cause” as a precondition before instituting legal proceedings. It was held that the essential legal safeguard lies in affording the individual an opportunity to show cause, and the absence of a certificate or letter does not invalidate the proceedings. This principle reaffirms the statutory objective of ensuring fair process without imposing additional requirements not contemplated by the Act. Reliance was placed upon a purposive readi