Marasinghe Pedige Thushara Kumarasiri vs Nalaka Wickramasinghe Senanayake, Senior Superintendent of Police – CA/CPA/0042/24-2024

In the case between the petitioner (the registered owner of the seized property, including two buses) and state authorities (including the Senior Superintendent of Police, other law enforcement officers, and the High Court of Gampaha), the court addressed the legality of a freezing and subsequent seizure of property under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. It was determined that law enforcement had failed to adhere to statutory procedures, as property was seized prior to the proper execution of a freezing order. The High Court’s subsequent validation and extension of the freezing order were found procedurally and legally erroneous. The order of the High Court of Gampaha dated 25‑04‑2024 was set aside, and the release of the seized buses to the petitioner was directed, reaffirming the