Rupahinge Gunaratne vs Madara Swarnamalee Wijewardena Thennakoon – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO.330/12-2013

In Rupahinge Gunaratne v. Madara Swarnamalee Wijewardena Thennakoon and others, the court addressed the lawfulness of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority’s issuance and renewal of a gemming licence to the 1st Respondent for the land known as “Peelikumbura,” in view of competing ownership claims and an ongoing partition action. It was determined that administrative licensing authorities are not empowered to resolve complex title disputes, especially where statutory and documentary evidence establishes a prima facie entitlement, and alternative remedies before civil courts remain available. The writ application to quash the Authority’s actions was dismissed, reaffirming the principle that discretionary administrative powers in licensing matters must be exercised in accordance with both