U. Prasanna Deepal vs Western Province Provincial Passenger Transport Authority and others – CA WRT/0137/19-2025

In the matter between members of the Luxury Omnibus Owners’ Association of Matugama and the Western Province Provincial Passenger Transport Authority and the National Transport Commission, the court addressed the issue of the regulatory authority over passenger transport services on National Highways and Expressways within a province. The court held that provincial authorities possess the power to regulate road passenger carriage services within their respective provinces, irrespective of whether the route utilizes National Highways or Expressways. This decision reaffirmed the principle that specific provincial powers of regulation are not superseded by national designations of highways when the transport service remains intra-provincial. This decision relied on Article 154 (G) (7) of the