Sirisena Jayasuriya vs Chaminda Ekanayake – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO. 298/17-2017

In the case between Sirisena Jayasuriya (Petitioner) and Chaminda Ekanayake (Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Development, Hambantota) with others, the court addressed whether an eviction order made on grounds of subletting paddy land without written sanction could be set aside by writ of certiorari. It was held that in the absence of legal or procedural error—where the challenge pertains solely to the factual findings of an administrative authority—judicial review via certiorari is not warranted. The principle reaffirmed is that prerogative writs do not lie for mere errors of fact unless such errors are coupled with a want of jurisdiction or legal error. Reliance was placed on established authorities, including Wade’s “Administrative Law” and Sunil Coorey’s treatises, emphasizing the li