Manodara Aacharige Chaminda Sugath Vs. Anuradha Yahampath and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO. 51/2021-2021

In the case between Manodara Aacharige Chaminda Sugath, Chairman, Ampara Urban Council, and Anuradha Yahampath, Governor, Eastern Province, along with several local government officials, the court addressed whether the Chairman satisfied statutory obligations regarding the preparation, submission, and approval of the Urban Council’s annual budget for 2021, and if non-approval led to an automatic resignation from office under the Urban Councils Ordinance. It was held that the failure to secure approval for the budget by due process resulted in the Chairman being deemed to have resigned, reaffirming the principle that strict compliance with statutory requirements is mandatory for budgetary processes in local governance. The decision relied on Sections 178, 178A (and its proviso), and Section