Dassanayake Mudiyanselage Ranbanda vs Peoples’ Bank – SC SPL LA NO. 229/11-2014

In the case between Dassanayake Mudiyanselage Ranbanda (“Dharshana”) and Peoples’ Bank, the court addressed the issue of the appropriate appeal procedure from Labour Tribunal orders and the effect of technical defects and omissions in petitions on appeal maintainability. The court held that the preliminary objections regarding statutory jurisdiction and procedural defects were not fatal, determining such deficiencies to be curable. This reaffirmed the principle that procedural technicalities should not override substantive justice, particularly when legislative intent and statutory interpretation support a flexible approach. Reliance was placed on statutory provisions, including the High Court of the Provinces (Special Provisions) Act No. 19 of 1990 and the Industrial Disputes (Amendment)