W.M.A. Perera vs People’s Bank – 579/2009-2011

In the case between W.M.A. Perera (Employee-Applicant-Petitioner) and People’s Bank (Respondent) and K.A.D.B. Karimarathne (Arbitrator), the court addressed the issue of whether deprivation of pension rights following the employee’s dismissal was justified under the People’s Bank pension scheme. It was held that entitlement to pension required the employee to be in service until the qualifying age or fulfill specified exceptions; as these criteria were not met, relief by way of writ of certiorari to quash the arbitration award was not warranted. This holding reaffirmed the principle that rights under an occupational pension scheme are governed strictly by the relevant rules of eligibility. Reference was made to relevant precedents, including People’s Bank v. Gilbert Weerasinghe, emphasizin