Wickramasinghe v. Ceylon Electricity Board and Another – sllr 1997 volume 2 page 377

The case between Wickramasinghe (the petitioner) and the Ceylon Electricity Board with its General Manager (respondents) addressed the issue of whether a statutory right exists, enforceable by writ of mandamus or certiorari, to obtain an extension of service beyond the retirement age. It was held that the petitioner’s claim arose solely from private contractual terms, and no statutory entitlement for service extension was created by the governing circular. The principle reaffirmed is that mandamus cannot be invoked to enforce contractual rights, reserving such relief to cases involving public or statutory legal duties. Reliance was placed on relevant judicial precedents, including Perera v. Municipal Council and decisions from higher courts, emphasizing that employment extensions remain wi