P.G. Somarathne, Deputy Commissioner of Agrarian Development Vs M.P. Cyril Rajapaksha and others – CA MCR 02/2018-2025

In the case between P.G. Somarathne, Deputy Commissioner of Agrarian Development and M.P. Cyril Rajapaksha and others, the court addressed the issue of whether the permit claimed by the petitioner for paddy land was obtained according to legal procedure and the validity of the Agrarian Development Authority’s directive (“P5”). It was held that the petitioner failed to establish that the permit was issued following lawful procedures, and the authority’s document was ultra vires. Reference was made to procedural requirements under the Agrarian Development Act and a review of earlier court orders. The decision emphasized the necessity for strict compliance with statutory procedures in land and permit matters and clarified that court orders based on incomplete records cannot validate administr