Beverly Palihawadana Vs. W.I.D.R. Weerakoon and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO: 370/2017-2021

In the case between Beverly Palihawadana (Petitioner) and W.I.D.R. Weerakoon (Assistant Commissioner of Labour) and R.P.A. Wimalaweera (Commissioner General of Labour) (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is entitled to jurisdictional immunity from legal proceedings in Sri Lankan courts regarding an employment dispute. It was held that the FAO cannot claim immunity from suit or enforcement in domestic courts simply by virtue of international instruments or bilateral agreements. The principle was reaffirmed that, under Sri Lanka’s dualist legal system, international immunities for organisations such as the FAO require specific domestic legal implementation—in this case, a ministerial order under Section 4(1