Sri Lankan Catering Limited vs T.D. Sunil Dayaratne et al. – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO: 350/2018-2021

In the dispute between Sri Lankan Catering Limited (Petitioner) and T.D. Sunil Dayaratne and others (Respondents), the Court considered whether employees who retired before the execution—but after the backdated effective date—of a Collective Agreement were entitled to benefits under that Agreement. It was held that only those in service on the date of execution were eligible, and the arbitrator had exceeded the mandate by awarding benefits contrary to the explicit terms of the Collective Agreement. The principle reaffirmed was that contractual and statutory clarity prevails over inferred or expanded entitlement. Reliance was placed on the Industrial Disputes Act and the express terms of the Collective Agreement, clarifying that backdating does not extend benefits to individuals not employe