Bandara v. State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka – sllr 2002 volume 3 page 138

In the case between the appellant (a workman/engineer, namely the employee) and the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka (the employer), the court addressed whether employment carried out on a “casual” basis, and without a formal appointment letter, could be treated as permanent for the purpose of reinstatement and back wages. The appellate review arose from the Labour Tribunal’s initial order of reinstatement and back wages in favor of the employee, which was subsequently reversed by the High Court. The critical legal question concerned the proper classification of the employee’s status—casual or permanent—under prevailing statutes and employment law principles, particularly in relation to the evidence of work engagement, wage payments, and lack of formal appointment. It was conclud