Devendra Budalge Sudesh Lalitha Perera vs. Janatha Estates Development Board and others – CA WRIT/004/2022-2022

In the case between Devendra Budalge Sudesh Lalitha Perera (Petitioner) and Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB) and others (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of the lawful retirement age and the applicability of Public Enterprise Circular No. 02/2021 (PE Circular 02/2021), which raised the compulsory retirement age to 62 years for public enterprise employees. It was determined that JEDB, as a state-owned public enterprise, is bound by policy circulars issued by the Department of Public Enterprises where such instruments possess statutory authority. The court held that since the impugned retirement decision was made under a revoked circular and was incomplete at the time of revocation, the action became null and void. The court granted writs of certiorari, quashing the petiti