Kalupahana Mestrige Jayatissa v. Divisional Secretary Kalutara and Attorney General – CA PHC/193/2011-2011

In the case between the Divisional Secretary, Kalutara (and Attorney General) and Kalupahana Mestrige Jayatissa, the central issue concerned whether the disputed land constituted “state land” within the meaning of the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act No. 7 of 1979, thereby entitling the state to recover possession. The sequence of events included an initial Magistrate’s Court order ejecting the respondent, followed by its reversal by the High Court upon a revision application. An appeal by the state challenged the High Court’s order. The main legal issues revolved around the sufficiency of evidence substantiating state title and compliance with statutory requirements for ejectment. The findings established that the state failed to produce documentary evidence of title or to establi