LOLC Finance PLC vs. Chandrapatti Mohottilage Mahanthe Gedara Chndrarathna Banda – SC APPEAL 08/2021-2025

In the case between LOLC Finance PLC (formerly Sinhaputhra Finance PLC) and Chandrapatti Mohottilage Mahanthe Gedara Chndrarathna Banda (among others), the court addressed the enforceability of an arbitral award arising from a disputed lease agreement. The central issue concerned whether the Commercial High Court had jurisdiction to set aside an arbitral award under Section 839 of the Civil Procedure Code, contrary to the specific procedures outlined in the Arbitration Act, particularly Sections 31 and 32. It was held that the Respondents failed to invoke the statutory challenge procedure within the prescribed time and that the exceptions for setting aside or refusing enforcement were not applicable in this context. The court reaffirmed the principle that arbitral awards must be challenged