P.I. Chandrasena v. Divisional Secretary and Attorney General – CA PHC 118/2010-2016

In the case between P.I. Chandrasena (Petitioner-Appellant) and the Divisional Secretary, Madagama with the Attorney General (Respondents-Respondents), the court addressed the validity of an affidavit submitted with an application for ejectment under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act. The primary issue was whether the failure to state the affirmant’s religion in the affidavit rendered the affidavit and the resulting ejectment order invalid. The sequence of events included the Divisional Secretary obtaining an ejectment order in the Magistrates’ Court, its affirmation by the High Court upon revision, and an appeal by the appellant challenging the sufficiency of the affidavit. It was determined that the omission of the affirmant’s religion did not, in law, invalidate the affidavit