Goonawardena vs. Samarasekara et al. – CA 788/2010-2010

In the case between D.S.D.S.W. Goonawardena and Lal Samarasekara (Divisional Secretary, Four Gravets Galle) and others, the court addressed the issue of whether the petitioner should be permitted to withdraw a filed writ application against several governmental respondents. The court held that the petitioner was allowed to withdraw the application and ordered a dismissal without costs, reaffirming the principle that, upon the unopposed application for withdrawal by a petitioner, the Court may permit withdrawal and dispose of the case accordingly. This decision relied on procedural jurisprudence allowing withdrawal without substantive adjudication when no objections are raised, emphasizing that such procedural orders conclude the matter without addressing the merits.

P.W.D.C. Jayathilaka J