Asiabike Industrial Limited vs Epa Arachchige Kumudu Upendra Premachandra – SC Appeal No. 134/2023-2025

This case between an employee and an Appellant concerning the termination of services, addresses the computation of time for filing appeals from Labour Tribunal awards to the High Court. The Appellant challenged the High Court’s decision to overrule a preliminary objection that the appeal was out of time. The central legal issue is the interpretation of Section 6(1) of the Industrial Disputes (Hearing and Determination of Proceedings) (Special Provisions) Act No. 13 of 2003, specifically the discrepancy between the English text excluding ‘Public Holidays’ and the Sinhala text excluding ‘Poya Days’ from the 30-day appeal period. The Supreme Court determined that the Sinhala text prevails in case of inconsistency, as mandated by Article 23(1) of the Constitution, and consequently, the High C