W.A.V.S Priyantha & Others vs Regional Mining Engineer & Others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO. 49/2020-2024

In the case between multiple petitioners holding expired Artisanal Mining Licenses (including individuals and entities such as S. K. M. S. Kirinde and others) and government agencies including the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the court addressed whether the petitioners were entitled to renewal of their expired mining licenses, and whether the respondents were legally obligated to issue new licenses for river sand mining within a 2‑km radius of the Gal Oya Bridge. The court held that there was no statutory or legal requirement for respondents to renew expired licenses or grant new ones in the designated restricted zone, reaffirming the legal principle that renewal of government-issued licenses is subject to statutory discretion and compliance with regulatory directives. This decision