Major General U.A. Karunaratne (Retired) v. K.K. Gunapala – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO.849/2008-2008

In the case between Major General U.A. Karunaratne (Petitioner) and K.K. Gunapala, Divisional Secretary – Bentota, along with the Ceylon Electricity Board and other respondents, the court addressed the adequacy of compensation awarded for the installation of a high power transmission line over the petitioner’s rubber estates. It was held that the statutory procedures under Sections 15 and 17 of the Electricity Act were properly followed and that the petitioner, who had contested only the compensation awarded and not the installation itself, had a statutory remedy available which was not pursued. The judgment reaffirmed the principle that where a statutory remedy is available under special enactments, judicial review by writ is not warranted unless exceptional circumstances exist. This deci