Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd v. V.B.P.K. Weerasinghe et al. – CA WRIT 391/2014-2014

The case between Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd and the Labour Authorities, including the Commissioner General of Labour and related officers, addressed whether the widow of a deceased employee should be allowed to intervene in a writ application challenging orders relating to the payment of EPF and gratuity. It was held that intervention in writ applications before the Court of Appeal is permissible only if the intervening party is necessary to the determination of the issues or can materially assist the court. This reaffirms the principle that parties seeking to intervene must demonstrate clear necessity or essential contribution, as established in authorities such as Mahanayaka Thero; Malwattu Vihara v. Registrar General (1938) and L.U.P. Jayawardene v. Minister of Health and others (2009). Th