Wimalasena Amaraweera Vs. K.P. Wijeratne and others – CA PHC NO.123/2000-2015

In the case between Wimalasena Amaraweera (1st Respondent-Petitioner-Appellant) and K.P. Wijeratne (Assistant Commissioner, Agrarian Services Department, Colombo), the court addressed the issue of whether the Provincial High Court of Sri Lanka has jurisdiction under Article 154P(4)(b) of the Constitution to issue writs of certiorari against decisions made by officers exercising powers delegated by the Commissioner General of Agrarian Services in devolved “agrarian” matters. The court held that such jurisdiction is determined by the nature of the authority exercised, not by a strict geographical interpretation, and the Provincial High Court lacked jurisdiction in these circumstances. This decision reaffirmed the principle that judicial review by the Provincial High Court depends on the mann