Trustees of Jennathl Masjeed Mosque, Teldeniya vs P.H.T. Silva – CA P.H.C. 174/16-2022

In the matter between M.S.U. Fazal and others, on behalf of the Trustees of Jennathl Masjeed Mosque, Teldeniya, and P.H.T. Silva and Namal Karunathilake, the Court addressed the timeliness of an Appeal lodged in the Court of Appeal against an order of the High Court under the Muslim Mosques and Charitable Trust or Wakfs (Amendment) Act. The Court held that the Appeal was filed outside the 14-day period prescribed by Article 154P(3)(b) of the Constitution and applicable Supreme Court rules, and that the belated Appeal could not be treated as a Revision Application in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The decision reaffirmed the legal principle that courts grant relief only to vigilant litigants and do not excuse delays arising from negligence or self-created hardship, relying on e