K.B. Piyadasa v. Jebaraj Krishnamoorthy – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO:167/2019-2021

In the case between K.B. Piyadasa and Jebaraj Krishnamoorthy (Food Commissioner, Food Commissioner’s Department), the court addressed whether a quit notice issued under the Government Quarters (Recovery of Possession) Act was legally valid and, if not, whether it should be quashed via a Writ of Certiorari. The court determined that, with the expiration of the lease agreement, the dispute was contractual in nature and not susceptible to public law remedies such as prerogative writs. It was reaffirmed that alleged breaches relating to government-leased premises, absent a statutory violation, do not grant relief under public law but may entitle an aggrieved party to pursue remedies provided under the relevant Act. This outcome relied on precedents including Podinona Urban Council Horana (1981