G.O.W.M. Gaurawawasansa vs National Savings Bank – CA WRIT/59/2015-2015

The case between G.O.W.M. Gaurawawasansa (Plaintiff/Petitioner) and the National Savings Bank with senior bank officials (Defendants/Respondents) addressed the issue of whether the Petitioner’s interdiction as Regional Manager was amenable to judicial review via prerogative writs, or whether it was a purely contractual matter governed by internal bank rules. It was held that, although the employment relationship exhibited a statutory flavor allowing for judicial review of disciplinary procedures, the Petitioner’s application lacked merit on the ground that material facts were not disclosed and a forged document was relied upon. The principle that applicants for prerogative writs must approach the Court with full candor and clean hands was reaffirmed, drawing upon precedents such as R v. Ke