Withanage Herath Weerasekara vs. Cooperative Workers Commission (North-Western – CA PHC 103/2005-2005

In the case between Withanage Herath Weerasekara (Appellant) and the Cooperative Workers Commission (North-Western) and Mawathagama Multi Purpose Cooperative Society (Respondents), the court addressed whether the 1st Respondent acted ultra vires and in violation of natural justice by rejecting the Appellant’s appeal without proper inquiry. It was held that the 1st Respondent’s decision to reject the recommendations of its own inquiring officer and to uphold the Appellant’s termination without conducting a further inquiry or providing an opportunity to be heard constituted a breach of natural justice and exceeded its authority under the applicable Cooperative Service Commission Regulations. The principle reaffirmed is that administrative bodies are obliged to afford affected parties a fair