W.M. Buddhadasa vs. K.W. Ivan de Silva – CA PHC 125/2009-2009

In the case between W.M. Buddhadasa and K.W. Ivan de Silva, Director General, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, the court addressed the issue of whether the appeal filed by W.M. Buddhadasa was lodged within the required 14-day period as stipulated by Rule 2(1)(a) of the Court of Appeal (Procedure for Appeals from High Courts) Rules 1988. It was held that the appeal had been filed out of time and the court could not entertain it, resulting in its dismissal. The principle reaffirmed was that strict compliance with statutory time limits for filing appeals is mandatory, and failure to adhere to such procedural rules precludes the court from considering the appeal. This decision relied on the procedural requirements set out in the aforementioned Rules, underscoring the necessity of timely action