H.M.P.G. Ranasinghe Bandara vs. W.M.P.K. Weerasekara et al. – CA PHC/55/2016-2020

In the case between H.M.P.G. Ranasinghe Bandara (Appellant) and W.M.P.K. Weerasekara, Commissioner of Co-operative Development and Registrar (Central Province) and Teldeniya Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Limited (Respondents), the central issue concerned the statutory compliance required for appeals under Rule 49(xii)(a) & (b) of the Co-operative Statutes. It was determined that the Appellant failed to deposit the mandatory sum as a precondition for appeal, instead merely requesting set-off from his account. The appellate authorities, including the Provincial High Court, rejected relief for non-compliance with the mandatory statutory requirement. The Court of Appeal affirmed these findings, holding that strict adherence to statutory conditions is required for appellate rights to vest.