Podinona Welagedara vs Hon. Gayantha Karunathilaka Minister of Lands & Parliamentary Reforms and 6 others – 291/2019-2021

In the case between Podinona Welagedara and 24 others (Petitioners) and Hon. Gayantha Karunathilaka (Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms) and six others (Respondents), the principal issue concerned whether the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction under Article 140 of the Constitution to issue writs of Certiorari and Mandamus in matters involving land subject to an order under Section 2 of the Urban Development Project (Special Provisions) Act No. 02 of 1980. The application encountered a preliminary objection based on Section 4 of the Act, asserting exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in cases where such an order has been made. Upon the petitioner’s request, prompted by this legal bar, the Court permitted withdrawal of the application and dismissed it pro-forma. The holding con