Buddhika Ediriweera Vs. The Secretary Pradeshiya Sabha, Bible & Hon. Attorney-General – CA PHC 0168/16-2022

In the case between Buddhika Ediriweera (Appellant) and the Secretary, Pradeshiya Sabha, Bible; Hon. Attorney-General and other governmental authorities (Respondents), the legal issue centered on whether the appellant’s construction—approved by a letter from the Vice-Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha—constituted valid development under the Urban Development Authority Act. It was held that the construction lacked legal validity as the letter did not fulfill the statutory requirement for a development permit in an area governed by the Act. The Court reaffirmed that only duly issued development permits grant legitimacy to such projects, relying on the statutory framework of the Urban Development Authority Act and prior case law. The decision underscores that informal or unauthorized permission