Shan Wijayalal de Silva vs Narunna Guruge Methsiri Alexander de Silva – CA [PHC] APN 82/14-2015

In the case between Shan Wijayalal de Silva (Minister-in-Charge of Local Government) and Narunna Guruge Methsiri Alexander de Silva (Mayor of Municipal Council, Galle) and others, the court addressed whether a Mayor, who has been re-elected after proven misconduct during a previous tenure, may be legally removed from office under Section 277(1) of the Municipal Councils Ordinance based on that prior misconduct. It was held that re-election does not shield a Mayor from removal due to misconduct found in an earlier term, reaffirming the principle that re-election does not operate as a bar to the enforcement of statutory sanctions for acts committed previously in office. The decision relied on the construction of Section 277, supported by public interest and good governance considerations, an