Abdul Offoor Mohamed Refai vs Range Forest Officer – CA PHC 285/2006-2006

The case between Abdul Offoor Mohamed Refai (Claimant-Appellant-Appellant) and the Range Forest Officer, Forest Department, Puttalam (Respondent) concerned the entitlement of the appellant to appeal to the Court of Appeal against a decision rendered by the High Court Judge in the exercise of appellate jurisdiction. It was determined that such an appeal was not procedurally maintainable, with dismissal of the appeal ordered. The principle reaffirmed was that no further appeal lies to the Court of Appeal from a High Court exercising appellate powers, as established by the precedent in Wickramasekera Vs. O.I.C. Ampara [2004 (1) SLR 257]. The outcome clarified the limitations on appellate review, reinforcing the procedural finality of High Court appellate decisions.

K.T. Chitrasiri J. — It w