Dhammika Nissanka Gunasekera v. The Acquiring Officer/Divisional Secretary – CA LAND ACQ.05/2013-2015

In the case between Dhammika Nissanka Gunasekera (Appellant) and The Acquiring Officer/Divisional Secretary, Greater Colombo Flood Control Project, and members of the Land Acquisition Board of Review (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of the adequacy of compensation awarded for land compulsorily acquired under the Land Acquisition Act. The principal holding set aside the Board of Review’s 2013 order, awarding compensation of Rs. 50,000 per perch—consistent with a previous 2006 valuation for adjacent land—plus statutory interest. It was established that disregarding the earlier, comparable valuation constituted a misdirection, resulting in unfair disparity, and reaffirmed the principle that similarly situated property should be treated equitably in compulsory acquisition contexts.