Wijesinghe v. The Magistrate, Kurunegala – sllr 1981 volume 2 page 212

In the case between WIJESINGHE (petitioner) and THE MAGISTRATE, Kurunegala, and the Municipal Commissioner, Kurunegala (respondents), the court addressed whether the petitioner, a local government employee, was entitled to a free transfer of premises under Act No. 63 of 1979 (amending the Local Authorities Housing Act) or was merely occupying “local authority quarters” subject to recovery under Law No. 42 of 1978. It was held that the petitioner was not entitled to a transfer, as the premises constituted “local authority quarters.” The court reaffirmed the principle that certiorari is not available where an authority acts in a purely ministerial capacity, referencing authority from Fernandopulle v. Minister of Lands and Agriculture. The application for writs was dismissed, underlining that