Assistant Commissioner of Cooperative Development vs Piyal Ranjith Thambawita – CA PHC : 72/2017-2022

In the case between the Assistant Commissioner of Cooperative Development, Department of Cooperative Development (WP), Colombo 01 (Plaintiff), and Piyal Ranjith Thambawita, storekeeper at the Panadura Multipurpose Cooperative Society (Defendant), the court addressed whether orders by the Magistrate, affirmed by the High Court, validating recovery for shortages from the storekeeper through enforcement of an Arbitration award, should be set aside. The court determined that the Minister for Cooperative Development (Western Province) held no authority to direct withdrawal of the enforcement certificate or mandate further inquiry once an Arbitration award had become final due to a lack of appeal by the storekeeper. It was affirmed that, under the Cooperative Societies Act No. 05 of 1972 and its