Application for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition – Sinnathurai Selvarathinam v. R. N. C. M. Herath – 472/2019-2021

In the case between Sinnathurai Selvarathinam (President, Sri Meenaadchi Sunthareaswarrar Thevasthanam) and R. N. C. M. Herath (Land Commissioner General), the court addressed the entitlement of the Petitioners to writ orders—mandamus and prohibition—under Article 140 of the Sri Lankan Constitution, concerning the issuance of land permits related to the Kovil premises and associated procedural issues of land administration and document translation. The application was considered on the basis of English translations agreed upon by all parties. The Petitioner sought withdrawal of the application with liberty to re-file. It was held that withdrawal would be permitted with no directions imposed on the Divisional Secretary or Commissioner of Land, reaffirming that no pro-forma directions arise