P.H. Bandula Hewage alias Hewage Bandula Sunil Amarapala v. H.H. Dingiri Banda et al. – CA WRIT 825/06-2015

In the case between P.H. Bandula Hewage alias Hewage Bandula Sunil Amarapala and others (Petitioners) and H.H. Dingiri Banda and others (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the 5th Respondent, the Head Quarters Agrarian Development Officer, Badulla, possessed jurisdiction to determine the status of the 1st Respondent as tenant cultivator under the Agrarian Development Act No. 46 of 2000. It was held that such jurisdiction was lacking where the alleged tenancy relationship was not admitted by both parties, and that administrative authorities could not adjudicate this status or nullify property transfers on this basis. The principle reaffirmed was that determination of tenancy status requires mutual acknowledgment or proper judicial process, and administrative officers can