Govindarasa Sasitharan vs Negombo Municipal Council – CA WRT/0363/2021-2023

In the case between Govindarasa Sasitharan (petitioner) and the Negombo Municipal Council (first respondent), with N. B. R. V. Fernando (Municipal Commissioner), Arunthavanathan Balarathani (third respondent), and the National Building Research Organization (other respondents), the court addressed whether the third respondent should be released from the proceedings owing to the petitioner’s failure to seek specific relief against him. It was held that the third respondent was not a necessary party to the case, as no relief was sought by the petitioner against that party. The principle reaffirmed is that only parties against whom relief is specifically claimed should be retained in proceedings for writs under Article 140 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.