Liyana Arachchige Ivan Gamini de Silva v. Hon. Attorney General and Officer in Charge, Police Station, Ragama – CA PHC/149/2009-2016

In the case between Liyana Arachchige Ivan Gamini de Silva (Petitioner/Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General and Officer in Charge, Police Station, Ragama (Respondents), the court addressed whether the Petitioner, being neither accused, complainant, nor vehicle claimant, possessed locus standi to seek revision of Magistrate’s and High Court decisions concerning the release of a seized vehicle. It was held that the Petitioner lacked legal standing, as no claim or sufficient interest in the property was established. The decision reaffirmed the principle that criminal courts are not competent to resolve ownership disputes absent a criminal offense, and property must be restored to the possessor if no offense is found. Reliance was placed on established legal precedent dictating that such d