Kumburegedara Herath Banda v. C. M. Karunarathna & Others – CA WRT/0340/19-2023

In the case between Kumburegedara Herath Banda (Petitioner) and a group of State officials including C. M. Karunarathna, W. M. Indika Karunarathna, and Panduka S. P. Abewardhana, the court addressed the validity of a succession claim to land under the Land Development Ordinance and the related legality of permits and grants. The application was dismissed upon determinations that the land had been properly nominated to a successor, the Petitioner’s actions were barred on grounds of laches and lack of clean hands, and the respondents’ actions in alienating the land complied with statutory requirements. Precedents concerning laches and principles of administrative law were relied upon, reaffirming that claims to State land permits must respect established nominations and comply with statutory