Eng. M. R. Ranatunga v Ceylon Electricity Board et al. – CA WRIT/02/2022-2022

In Eng. M. R. Ranatunga v. Ceylon Electricity Board and Others, the court addressed whether the retirement age for the General Manager (GM) of CEB was extended to 62 years by Public Enterprise Circular No. 2 of 2021, despite Section 5(4) of the CEB Act still specifying retirement at 60. The court held that the merits of the Petitioner’s claim and all preliminary objections should be examined at a full hearing, declining to issue a final order at the interim stage. The principle reaffirmed is that statutory provisions prevail unless expressly amended, and all substantive issues require full consideration on evidence. The decision emphasized maintaining the status quo, relying on statutory interpretation of the CEB Act and the procedural role of interim relief, clarifying that interim judici