Watagala Hewage Thamani Kumari Watagala et al v. Road Development Authority et al – CA NO. 462/2013-2013

In the case between Watagala Hewage Thamani Kumari Watagala and others (Petitioners) and the Road Development Authority and others (Respondents), the Court addressed the issue of whether respondents could be compelled, by writ of mandamus, to acquire the remaining portions of land that had been partially used for the widening of the Kuliyapitiya Madampe road. The Court held that the applications lacked merit and dismissed them, reaffirming the principle that a writ of mandamus will not issue to compel acquisition absent a clearly identified statutory obligation on the part of state authorities. This decision relied on the established legal standard for mandamus and requirements for identifying enforceable statutory duties, emphasizing that courts cannot mandate state acquisition where the