Registrar General Department Poth Bandum Karuwange Sangamaya, W.D. Dharmasena, K.K. Chandrapala vs E.M. Gunasekara, Pro. Dayasiri Fernando, T.M.L.C. Senarathne, Palitha M. Kumarasinghe, Sirimavo A. Wijerathne, S.P. Mannapperuma, Ananda Senevirathne, N .R. Pathirana, S. Pillai Nadarajah, N.D.W. Ariyawansa, M. Mohammed Nahiya – 434/2013-2014

In the case between Registrar General Department Poth Bandum Karuwange Sangamaya and E.M. Gunasekara (Registrar General), concerning a writ application, the court addressed the withdrawal of the application by the Petitioners. It was held that the application is dismissed without an order as to costs, permitting withdrawal on the Petitioners’ counsel’s request and clarifying that such dismissal is without prejudice to an existing application in C.A. No. 452/2011. The principle reaffirmed is that a withdrawal of an action does not affect related pending litigation unless expressly stated. The decision underscores that procedural termination through withdrawal does not operate as a bar to other proceedings involving similar matters.

ANIL GOONERATNE J. — Upon the matter being called, the wi