Harischandra Senarath Rathnayake vs Director General, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority – CA PHC 166/17-2022

In the case between Harischandra Senarath Rathnayake and the Director General, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, the court addressed whether the Provincial High Court of Embilipitiya holds jurisdiction to entertain revision applications relating to State lands, specifically with reference to the precedent set in Superintendent, Stafford Estate & Others v. Solaimuthu Rasu and the interpretation of constitutional Articles 138, 154P (3)(b), and 154P (4). It was held that the relevant constitutional provisions do not bar the Provincial High Court from revisionary jurisdiction in matters involving State lands, distinguishing between writ and revisionary jurisdiction. Relying on established constitutional interpretation and Supreme Court authority, it was emphasized that the prior dismissal by the H