R.B.L. Wijesooriya vs Mr. Raja Goonaratne and others – CA WRIT/92/2014-2014

The case between R.B.L. Wijesooriya (Petitioner) and Mr. Raja Goonaratne, Commissioner for National Housing, Dr. W.M. Karunadasa, and other members of the Ceiling on Housing Property Board of Review (Respondents), addressed the interpretation of “extreme hardship” under section 17(c) of the Ceiling on Housing Property Law No. 1 of 1973, specifically whether such hardship warranted the sale of acquired property within five years of transfer. It was held that “extreme hardship” encompasses not only financial but also health and age-related difficulties. The principle reaffirmed is that statutory discretion must be exercised fairly and in accordance with the full scope of legislative intent. The decision relied on statutory interpretation of section 17(c), emphasizing that both health and age