Rev. Battaramulla Seelarathana and Shantha Baranagala vs. Dayananda Dissanayake and Others – CA 176/2011-2011

In the case between Rev. Battaramulla Seelarathana and others (Janasetha Peramuna) and Dayananda Dissanayake and others (Commissioner General of Elections and associated election officers), the court examined whether the rejection of Janasetha Peramuna’s nomination paper for the Ruwanwella Pradeshiya Sabha election was lawful, specifically focusing on whether the papers were delivered by an authorized individual as required under Section 28(5) of the Local Authorities Elections Law. It was held that due to a factual dispute on the identity of the individual who submitted the nomination paper, judicial review by way of writ was inappropriate; matters of disputed fact fall within the remit of trial courts, not the writ jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal. The application was dismissed with n