Wanasinghe Mudiyanselage Kusumawathi v. Divisional Secretary, et al. – NO. 241/2014-2016

In the case between Wanasinghe Mudiyanselage Kusumawathi, Ratnasiri Motors (Petitioner) and Divisional Secretary, Nuwaragam Palatha East, Land Commissioner General, Hon. Minister of Lands and Lands Development, and Sriyani Premalatha Subathilaka (Respondents), the court addressed whether the Provincial Lands Commissioner of the North Central Provincial Council possessed legal authority under the State Lands Ordinance to cancel or grant long-term leases for state land previously validly leased to the Petitioner. The court determined that, under the State Lands Ordinance, only the President or a properly delegated Government Agent may lease or cancel leases of state lands. Actions by the Provincial Lands Commissioner attempting to cancel the original lease and issue new leases to other parti