Ceylon Petroleum Corporation And others Vs. Dayanthi Dias Kaluarachchi – SC APPEAL 43/2013-2018

In the case between former employees of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) who retired under its Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) (petitioners) and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation along with its officials (appellants), the court addressed whether the petitioners could demand unpaid salary arrears based on cabinet circular P6 despite having accepted a full and final VRS settlement. It was held that no enforceable public law duty arose from the contractual employment relationship or from circular P6, and therefore, the issuance of a writ of mandamus was not justified. The judgment reaffirmed the principle that contractual arrangements between employer and employee do not create a statutory duty suitable for mandamus and highlighted that claims brought after significant delay (laches) m