Textile July Strikers Welfare Association vs D. M.S Dissanayake – CA 852/2007-2012

In Textile July Strikers Welfare Association and others v. D. M. S. Dissanayake (Commissioner of Labour, Industrial Relations) and others, the Supreme Court addressed whether Petitioners, former textile workers dismissed after the July 1980 general strike, were entitled to a Writ of Mandamus to compel Respondents to implement favorable Cabinet decisions (P5, P5a) granting arrears of salary and related dues. The claim centered on the enforceability of Cabinet policy decisions, the legal effect of a subsequent Cabinet paper (R5) deferring such obligations, and principles of legitimate expectation and judicial discretion on granting Mandamus. It was held that Mandamus was not available in view of the unchallenged Cabinet policy change (R5), and the Court reaffirmed that Mandamus will not issu