Sellapperumage Nilusha Fernando vs B. K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Commissioner General of Labour and others – CA WRT 0529/23-2025

In the matter of Sellapperumage Nilusha Fernando and Sellapperumage Sena Ranjith Fernando (G.T.A. Service Station) against the Commissioner General of Labour and others, the court addressed an application for writs of certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus. The core legal issue involved quashing gratuity awards and a certificate issued by the Commissioner of Labour, which mandated the payment of Rs. 420,940.00 to three employees, with the petitioners disputing their employer status. The application was dismissed, reaffirming the principles of laches and the availability of an equally effective alternate remedy. This decision relied on the petitioners’ unexplained three-year delay in filing the application and the existence of a remedy under Section 8(1) of the Payment of Gratuity Act, empha