Banneheka Mudiyanselage Shashimal Harshana Banneheka et al. vs Road Development Authority et al. – CA NO.04/2014-2018

In the case between Banneheka Mudiyanselage Shashimal Harshana Banneheka and others (petitioners) and the Road Development Authority and others (respondents), the court addressed whether the state could be compelled by writ of mandamus to acquire small remaining portions of land abutting the widened Kuliyapitiya Madampe road, where earlier road widening had taken place with landowner consent but without formal compulsory acquisition. It was held that the relief sought by petitioners was legally deficient — the request was too vague in not specifying the statutory steps to be compelled, and the state was not under any obligation to acquire the lands at that time. The principle reaffirmed was that a writ of mandamus cannot be granted where there is no statutory duty or clear legal basis for