Surani Gayathri Nambuwasam vs. The University of Vocational Technology and others – CA MISC/06/2019-2022

In the case between Surani Gayathri Nambuwasam and the University of Vocational Technology and others, the court addressed the entitlement of the appellant to be absorbed as a permanent Lecturer, or Senior Lecturer, upon transition from the National Institute of Technical Education of Sri Lanka (N.I.T.E.S.L.) to the University of Vocational Technology. The central determination was whether appointment as a “Teaching Assistant” was ultra vires to the appellant’s qualifications and status, and whether the subsequent acceptance of such appointment precluded further challenge. The holding established that Nambuwasam did not possess guaranteed permanent status as a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer at the time of transition and that having accepted the Teaching Assistant position, estoppel prevents c