Narandeniye Deepananda Thero v. Martin Ekanayake et al. – CA PHC 122/2011-2016

In the case between Narandeniye Deepananda Thero (Petitioner-Appellant) and Martin Ekanayake (1st Respondent-Respondent), the court addressed whether the Provincial High Court possessed jurisdiction to issue a writ of Certiorari to quash the order of the Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Development regarding tenancy rights over disputed paddy land. It was held that the Provincial High Court lacked writ jurisdiction in this matter, reaffirming the principle that judicial review of decisions arising from authorities exercising powers on an island-wide basis must be sought in the Court of Appeal, not in the Provincial High Court. The decision relied on the interpretation of Article 154P(4) of the Constitution and relevant Supreme Court precedent, emphasizing that the proper forum for challe