R. W. R. G. Tharanga Udayanganee Rajapakse vs Ceylon Electricity Board – CA/WRIT/0220/22-2024

In the case between R. W. R. G. Tharanga Udayanganee Rajapakse (and family) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (and associated respondents), the court addressed the legality and statutory compliance of constructing and energizing a 33kV electricity line in proximity to the petitioner’s residential property. The court held that such construction is permissible only if the statutory minimum safety distances under the applicable Electricity (Safety and Continuity) Regulations are strictly maintained, irrespective of the cabling method used. This decision reaffirmed the principle that statutory safety regulations take precedence over internal guidelines or individual consent when public safety is at risk. Reliance was placed on Regulations P40/P41, emphasizing the mandatory nature of safety clea