K.U. De Silva et al. vs. H.P.S. Somasiri et al. – CA WRIT 45/2008-2008

In K.U. De Silva and others v. H.P.S. Somasiri (Director General, Department of Irrigation) and others, the court addressed whether the petitioners were entitled to a writ of mandamus compelling completion of a recruitment process for work supervisor class II(B) posts in the Sri Lanka Technical Service (SLTS), following the abolition of the advertised posts. It was determined that issuance of such a writ would be futile, as official documentation confirmed the posts had been abolished by the Department of Management Services, Ministry of Finance & Planning. The legal principle reaffirmed that courts should not grant writs that serve no practical purpose where the subject matter no longer exists. Dismissal of the application without costs was ordered, emphasizing that the effectiveness of r