D.A. Karunawathie vs Hon. Attorney General and Others – CA PHC 160/2009-2009

In the case between D.A. Karunawathie (Petitioner-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General and Others (Respondent-Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the High Court of Ratnapura possessed jurisdiction to entertain a writ application concerning a land grant issued under Section 19(4) of the Land Development Ordinance. It was held that such matters do not fall within the devolved powers of Provincial Councils pursuant to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The principle was reaffirmed that matters concerning Presidential land grants remain outside the jurisdiction of Provincial Councils and provincial High Courts. This decision relied on the interpretation of the Land Development Ordinance, the 13th Amendment, and relevant case law, underscoring that Presi