Jinasena (Pvt) Ltd. vs. L.S.I. Fernando – SC Appeal No. 30/ 2023-2025

This case concerns the jurisdictional competence of the Provincial High Court of Civil Appeal of the Western Province (Colombo) to hear a revision application from the Labour Tribunal of Wattala. The Supreme Court addressed the conflict between broad and restrictive interpretations of High Court jurisdiction, particularly concerning ‘forum shopping’. While acknowledging that a literal interpretation of the High Court of the Provinces (Special Provisions) Act No. 19 of 1990 technically granted jurisdiction to the Colombo High Court, the Court ruled against such an interpretation to prevent abuse of process and administrative disarray. The appeal was allowed proforma, with a directive to transfer the revision application to the Provincial High Court of the Western Province (Gampaha) as the m