Rev. Battaramille Seelarathana vs Ceylon Electricity Board – CA 213/2017-2017

In the case between Rev. Battaramille Seelarathana (Petitioner) and the Ceylon Electricity Board, Cabinet of Ministers, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, and others (Respondents), the Court addressed the maintainability of an application seeking writs of prohibition, certiorari, and mandamus under Article 140 of the Constitution. The Court determined that not all prayers met the substantive or procedural requirements for the issuance of writs, especially regarding proper parties and precise relief requested. It was established that writs of mandamus cannot be issued to prevent action but rather to compel duties and that a prohibition writ cannot be utilized to prevent a pending official act. The holding reaffirmed that the inclusion of the proper authority as a party is essential for c