Harischandra Senarath Rathnayake v. Director General, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority – CA PHC 164/17-2022

In the case between Harischandra Senarath Rathnayake and the Director General, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, the court addressed the issue of whether the Provincial High Court of Embilipitiya possessed jurisdiction under Article 154P(3)(b) of the Constitution to entertain a revision application concerning State land, in the context of the Supreme Court decision in The Superintendent, Stafford Estate and Others v. Solaimuthu Rasu. The court held that the High Court’s dismissal on grounds of lack of jurisdiction was incorrect, as the Solaimuthu Rasu decision—while excluding writ jurisdiction under Article 154P(4)—does not preclude appellate or revisionary jurisdiction under Article 154P(3)(b), which provides for such jurisdiction over orders from Magistrate’s and Primary Courts irrespective