Bandusena Dissanayake vs P.B. Siripala – CA PHC 256/06-2013

In the case between Bandusena Dissanayake (Appellant-Petitioner) and P.B. Siripala (Divisional Secretary, Kebithigollawa) with the Hon. Attorney General (Defendant-Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the Provincial High Court had jurisdiction to issue writs of certiorari to quash notices to quit issued by a competent authority under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act. It was held that the Provincial High Court lacks such jurisdiction, reaffirming the principle that matters concerning State land governed by the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act do not fall within the scope of the Provincial Council List. Reliance was placed on the precedent set in Superintendent, Stafford Estate v. Solaimuthu Rasu, which was regarded as binding. This decision emphasizes t