Willium Rajapakshe vs Hon. Attorney General – CA PHC 125/2005-2005

In the case between Willium Rajapakshe (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Attorney General’s Department, Colombo) and Divisional Secretary, Puttalam (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the Court of Appeal possessed jurisdiction to entertain an appeal against the decision of the High Court of Chilaw when the High Court functioned in an appellate capacity. It was determined that, based on the precedent established in Wickremasaker v. O.I.C. Ampara (2004 (1) SLR 257), the Court of Appeal lacks such jurisdiction. As a result, the appeal was summarily dismissed, reaffirming the principle that the Court of Appeal cannot hear appeals arising from High Court decisions delivered in an appellate role. The decision underscored the binding nature of statutory limita