Kannangara vs Minister of Labour and Others – sllr 2004 volume 3 page 018

In the case between P.S.W. Kannangara (plaintiff, former employee) and Sampath Bank Limited with the Minister of Labour and others (defendants), the issue concerned whether the plaintiff’s complaint regarding non-promotion remained a live issue after the acceptance of compensation and cessation of employment. It was determined that the acceptance of compensation rendered the non-promotion claim academic and that judicial intervention was not warranted due to substantial delay in challenging the award and the potential adverse effects on third parties already promoted. The holding reaffirmed that matters rendered academic by subsequent events and applications brought after undue delay are not judicially cognizable. Reliance was placed on relevant precedents addressing laches in prerogative