Cadillac Garments (Pvt) Ltd vs. Ranjith Yapa, Acquiring Officer and Divisional Secretary, Divisional Secretariat, Matara and others – CA WRIT/0093/2019-2022

In the case between Cadillac Garments (Pvt) Ltd (Petitioner) and Ranjith Yapa, Acquiring Officer and Divisional Secretary, Divisional Secretariat, Matara, and D. D. K. Wickramarachchi, Acquiring Officer and Divisional Secretary, Divisional Secretariat, Matara (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the decision of the Acquiring Officer, refusing to refer the Petitioner’s claim for compensation to the District Court under the Land Acquisition Act, should be quashed by Writ of Certiorari, and whether a Writ of Mandamus should issue to direct such a reference. The court held that the Petitioner acquired valid legal title to the land following Cabinet approval, payment, and registration of transfer, and was entitled to have its compensation claim referred to the District Court