Yodha Pedige Lalitha Samarakoon v. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board and Eng. R.H. Ruvinis – CA WRT APPLICATION NO: 351/2020-2021

In the case between Yodha Pedige Lalitha Samarakoon (Petitioner) and The National Water Supply and Drainage Board with Eng. R.H. Ruvinis, General Manager, National Water Supply and Drainage Board (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the General Manager of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board qualifies as a “competent authority” to issue a Quit Notice under Section 3 of the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act No. 7 of 1979, and whether the land in question is state land subject to recovery proceedings. It was held that the General Manager constitutes a competent authority under the Act, and that the subject land had been lawfully vested in the Board as evidenced by the Gazette notification. The application seeking a Writ of Certiorari to quash the Quit Notice