Gestetner of Ceylon PLC vs Hon. Gamini Lokuge and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO. 439/2010-2012

In the case between Gestetner of Ceylon PLC (Petitioner) and the Hon. Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Labour Relations and Productivity Improvement, among others (Respondents), the court addressed whether a ministerial reference under Section 4(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, dated 13/01/2010 (marked P23), accurately reflected the actual dispute between Gestetner of Ceylon PLC and the members of the 5th respondent union. It was held that the reference in question did not convey the real nature of the dispute, resulting in the quashing of the ministerial reference. The principle reaffirmed is that ministerial references under industrial dispute law must genuinely embody the real issues in contention. Reliance was placed on the statutory framework of the Industrial Disputes Act, and it was emp