Geetha Girige and Bambarenda Hashan Dishnika Guruge vs Hon. Jeewan Coomaranatunga – CA APPLICATION NO.11/2008-2012

In the case between Geetha Girige (nee Gardhi Ambrosikankanamge Geetha Alwis) and Bambarenda Hashan Dishnika Guruge (minor, represented by Geetha Girige) as Petitioners, and the Hon. Jeewan Coomaranatunga, Minister of Lands, the Divisional Secretary and Acquiring Officer, Hambantota, and the Chief Secretary, Southern Provincial Council, Galle as Respondents, the court addressed the lawfulness of the governmental acquisition of lands (Lot C2, Plan No.787A, dated 1/06/1973) and whether the Petitioners were entitled to a Writ of Certiorari to quash the acquisition or a Writ of Mandamus to compel action by authorities. It was held that, as the application was directly connected to a previous Court of Appeal Application (CA.962/2007) with substantially similar facts and sought identical relief,