The Superintendent, Stafford Estate and Others Vs. Solaimuthu Rasu – CA PHC 168/2017-2013

In the case between Harischandra Senarath Rathnayake (Respondent-Petitioner-Appellant) and the Director General, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority (Applicant-Respondent-Respondent), the court addressed whether a Provincial High Court possesses revisionary jurisdiction under Article 154P(3)(b) of the Constitution with respect to state land matters. The sequence of events included a Magistrate’s Court order against the Appellant, the High Court’s dismissal of a revision application citing lack of jurisdiction over state lands (relying on Solaimuthu Rasu), and subsequent appellate review. The court held that Article 154P(3)(b) does not restrict the Provincial High Court from exercising revisionary powers in such matters, and further determined that misapplication of Solaimuthu Rasu led to a per in