L. J. K. Hettiaratchi vs Pearl Weerasinghe – SC APPEAL 37/2018-2025

The court addressed whether the Commissioner General of Labour possessed authority to revisit, vary, or revoke a final order relating to payment of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and gratuity. It was held that, absent clear evidence of a fundamental mistake of fact or fraud, such administrative decisions are final under the doctrines of finality (functus officio) and the presumption of validity. The principle reaffirmed is that administrative orders, once perfected, may not be arbitrarily revisited unless exceptional grounds—such as fraud or fundamental factual error—are demonstrated. This holding relied on established administrative law doctrines, emphasizing the certainty and finality of administrative determinations to prevent recurrent and indefinite challenges to concluded matters.