Palm Products and Sales Co-Operative Society Ltd., Kilinochchi v. Valli Kandiah – sllr 1984 volume 1 page 230

In the case between Palm Products and Sales Co-operative Society Ltd., Kilinochchi (Plaintiff) and Valli Kandiah (Respondent), the court addressed whether a member of a cooperative society restricted to toddy tapping qualifies as a “workman” under the Workmen’s Compensation Ordinance and whether internal society compensation bars further statutory claims. It was held that such a member is considered an employee when employed by the society, and compensation under society rules does not preclude claims under the Ordinance. The legal reasoning reaffirmed that the statutory protections of the Workmen’s Compensation Ordinance are not abrogated by the Co-operative Societies Law or by-laws. This decision relied on statutory interpretation and relevant precedents, emphasizing that corporate socie