Hetti Kankanamlage Gunasinghe vs People’s Bank – 77/15-2017

In the case between People’s Bank and Don Wimalasiri Dissanayake (Petitioners) and Hetti Kankanamalage Gunasinghe (Respondent/Appellant), the court addressed the issue of compliance with the mandatory provisions of the Finance Act regarding the procedure for notifying interested parties about compensation claims during a land acquisition by the Bank. It was held that failure by People’s Bank to provide the required notice and opportunity under Sections 71 and 73 of the Finance Act constituted a fatal irregularity, invalidating the subsequent acquisition process and related actions. The principle was reaffirmed that strict adherence to statutory notification requirements is necessary to ensure procedural fairness and compliance with natural justice. The decision relied on the interpretation