Sri Lanka Ports Authority vs Athauda Seneviratne and Others – sllr 2012 volume 1 page 057

In the case between Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Athauda Seneviratne, concerning an industrial dispute involving allowances for Pilot Station Employees, the court examined whether a reference made under Section 4(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act was valid when based solely on the observations—not recommendations—of the Salaries Anomalies Committee 2001 report. It was determined that the core issue was the jurisdiction of the fourth respondent to interpret the report by relying on oral evidence. The findings established that, with the facts undisputed, any further interpretation constituted a question of law, which could not be decided by reliance on witness testimony. The disputed reference was quashed by writ of certiorari, with no order as to costs. This holding reaffirmed that interpr