Alwis v. Wedamulla Additional Director General, U.D.A. – sllr 1997 volume 3 page 417

In the case between Alwis (Plaintiff) and Wedamulla, Additional Director-General of the Urban Development Authority (Defendant), the court addressed the question of whether the Additional Director-General qualified as the “Competent Authority” under the Urban Development Authority Act to institute proceedings for ejectment and whether the statutory condition precedent—written approval from the Minister of Housing—was satisfied before such proceedings. It was determined that the Additional Director-General did not possess the requisite delegated powers from the Director-General, and that there was no evidence to show that the necessary ministerial approval had been obtained. As a result, the application before the Magistrate’s Court was found to be without jurisdiction, leading to the setti