Mr. A.M. Ratnayake vs Administrative Appeals Tribunal – SC SPL LA NO. 173/2011-2013

In the case between Mr. A.M. Ratnayake (petitioner) and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Public Service Commission, Court of Appeal, and associated officers (respondents), the court addressed the issue of the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to review decisions made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and the Public Service Commission (PSC). The court held that the preliminary objection based solely on Article 61A of the Constitution was insufficient to preclude judicial review, and it was affirmed that the Court of Appeal retains jurisdiction to review such matters. The principle reaffirmed is that constitutional ouster clauses must be strictly construed, and the AAT is not merely an arm of the PSC; appellate review is not ousted solely by Article 61A. Reliance was placed