H.R.R.Upananda Senanayake vs N.P.Wijayananda – CA WRIT NO.892/2009-2015

In the case between H.R.R. Upananda Senanayake (Petitioner) and N.P. Wijayananda, Chairman, Geological Survey & Mines Bureau, together with A.S.M.A.T.B. Mudunkotuwa, Director General, Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (Respondents), the court addressed whether an application to re-list a matter for argument could be entertained following the discovery that the detailed written judgment was missing from court records, though a journal entry existed stating “Petition is allowed.” It was held that re-listing is not warranted under Section 771 of the Civil Procedure Code where both parties were present when judgment was pronounced, despite the subsequent absence of a detailed written judgment. The principle was reaffirmed that acts of court record-keeping errors do not justify reopening cases w