Ceylon Cold Stores PLC vs Inter Company Employees’ Union – SC APPEAL NO 17/2022-2025

In the case between Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (Employer) and the Inter Company Employees’ Union (representing employee Kannaariam Nadarajah), the court addressed whether the termination of Nadarajah’s employment was justified or constituted an unjust, unfair, and wrongful dismissal. The issues considered included the admissibility and weight of hearsay evidence and of a purported confession under the Evidence Ordinance, the evidentiary standard applicable to industrial disputes, and the appropriate remedy for wrongful termination. The Tribunal initially found for the employee, ordering reinstatement, which was affirmed by the High Court. Upon appeal, the Supreme Court determined that the evidence was insufficient to justify termination on the balance of probabilities, held that compensation r