Acting Deputy Commissioner of Labour vs. Bhuwalka Steet Industries (Sri Lanka) Ltd. – CA/REV/PHC/APN/NO.166/2019-2022

In the case between the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Labour Secretariat, Colombo 5, and Bhuwalka Steel Industries (Sri Lanka) Ltd., the court addressed the issue of jurisdiction for instituting proceedings under the Wages Board Ordinance, as well as the validity and clarity required in certificates issued under said Ordinance. It was held that the appropriate forum for proceedings is determined by the location where business operations and statutory obligations occur, rather than the registered address of the company. The legal standard for a valid certificate was found to be satisfied by the inclusion of detailed schedules accompanying the certificate, which outlined the identities of affected workers and the amounts due. This interpretation reaffirmed the principle that substant