P.R.S.S. Wijaratna vs University of Vocational Technology – CA MISC/03/2019-2020

In the case between University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC) and P.H.S.S. Wijeratna, the court addressed whether UNIVOTEC possessed the legal right to appeal a decision of the University Appeals Board under section 37 of the University of Vocational Technology Act, No. 31 of 2008, and whether the appeal was filed within the required 14-day limitation period. It was held that although UNIVOTEC had the right to appeal, the appeal in this instance was not filed within the statutory time limit. The principle reaffirmed is that jurisdictional time-bar provisions must be strictly observed, and failure to comply results in dismissal regardless of the merits. The decision relied on section 37 of the University of Vocational Technology Act and applicable provisions of the Interpretation Ordin