Ceylon Petroleum Corporation vs Hon. Ravindra Samaraweera et al – CA WRT/504/19-2022

In the case between Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and H.N. Perera and Lalitha Lalani Kodithuwakku, the court addressed the lawfulness and reasonableness of the arbitral award dated 24.06.2019, which granted promotions and back wages to the 4th and 5th Respondents. It was held that the award was ultra vires and bad in law, reaffirming the principle that legal remedies for promotions must be sought promptly and that arbitral decisions require reasoned analysis in accordance with judicial standards. The decision relied on established legal doctrines surrounding laches, estoppel, and the statutory duties of arbitral tribunals, emphasizing that awards rendered without adequate reasoning and procedural propriety cannot be sustained.

M. T. Mohammed Laffar J. — After a comprehensive review of the