Maheepala Mudiyanselage Lalitha Sirimathie Kumarihamy vs National Gem and Jewellery Authority – CA 303/2013-2013

In the case between Maheepala Mudiyanselage Lalitha Sirimathie Kumarihamy (Petitioner) and the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and others (Respondents), the court addressed whether the suspension of a mining and gemming license by the Authority under section 15(7) of the relevant Act was lawful or whether only revocation was authorized. The primary holding determined that the statutory provision empowers the Authority to revoke, but not suspend, a license. The court, applying the legal principles governing interim relief, held that the suspension could not be maintained pending inquiry and granted an interim stay against the suspension. Authoritative precedents regarding the preservation of status quo prior to final adjudication were relied upon, emphasizing that interim intervention