Archbishop of Colombo v. Minister of Education and Others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO: 1413/2006-2016

In the case between Archbishop of Colombo (Petitioner) and Hon. Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Minister of Education (1st Respondent) and others, the court addressed the issue of whether the statutory power under the Assisted Schools and Training Colleges (Special Provisions) Act No. 5 of 1961 allowed for the revocation of a divesting order of property, in light of Section 18 of the Interpretation Ordinance. It was held that Section 18 does not empower the Minister of Education or relevant authority to revoke such a divesting order once made, reaffirming the principle that statutory powers must be exercised strictly within the parameters of the enabling statute and cannot be broadened by general interpretive provisions where specific powers are absent. The decision relied on the interpretation o