Wannipura Gamage Malini Chandrika Budumuththtawa v. P. Susantha Jayathilaka – CA WRIT APPLICATION 231/2015-2016

In the case between Wannipura Gamage Malini Chandrika (Petitioner) and P. Susantha Jayathilaka (The Divisional Secretary, Divisional Secretariat, Nikawaratiya) and Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed whether the land known as “Galagoda Henayaya” constituted private or state land, and whether a notice (P11) issued under the State Land Recovery of Possession Act seeking to evict the petitioner was valid. It was held that the land in question had previously been judicially determined as private land in an earlier writ (CA Writ 2033/2005), rendering the present eviction notice invalid. The principle reaffirmed was that res judicata applies where prior findings recognize land ownership, restricting authorities from actions contrary to such determination. Relief was accordingly granted, e