S.J.M.R.P. Samarakoon v. Anura Hathurusinghe et al. – CA WRIT 183/2016-2016

In the case between S.J.M.R.P. Samarakoon (Petitioner) and Anura Hathurusinghe, Conservator General of Forests, D.P. Prasad, District Forest Officer, Monaragala, W.H.M. Vijithsiri Bandara, Ranger Forest Officer, Wellawaya, and P.M.U.D. Basnayake, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy (Respondents), the court addressed whether the petitioner was entitled to a writ of mandamus compelling the respondents to permit removal of vein quartz from the Kotikambokka forest reserve. It was determined that the granting of permits for such extraction was discretionary under the Forest Ordinance and not a statutory right, especially as previous permits did not involve a competitive bidding process and changed government policy reserved extraction to a state-owned company. The applicatio