Don Piyasena Karunaratne v. H P Somadasa et al. – NO. 105/2015-2015

In the case between Don Piyasena Karunaratne (Petitioner) and H.P. Somadasa (Mayor, Municipal Council, Anuradhapura), S.S.M. Sampath Rohana Dharmadasa (Municipal Commissioner, Municipal Council, Anuradhapura), and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether contempt of court arose from the Respondents’ alleged failure to transfer a property to the Petitioner following previous court decisions. It was determined that no such court order or writ of mandamus compelling the transfer of the house existed, as prior judgments had merely set aside a quit notice but expressly refused to direct a transfer. The principle reaffirmed is that deliberate disobedience—essential for contempt—requires a clear, binding directive. Previous statutory and judicial findings