Thanthirimudalige Don Anton Saliya Hemantha and other vs. Nawaloka Construction Pvt Ltd et al. – C A WRIT APPLICATION NO. 359/2016-2018

In the case between Thanthirimudalige Don Anton Saliya Hemantha, Karupaiah Rajasekaran (Petitioners), and W.G. Premalal, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, M.A.S. Weerasinghe, Central Environmental Authority, Vijith Vijithamuni Zoyza, Nawaloka Construction (Pvt) Ltd, Hon. Attorney General (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether writs of certiorari and mandamus should be issued to quash certain statutory land development approvals and compel respondents to act under relevant land and environmental statutes. The court held that the application for relief was barred due to undue delay and the existence of an alternative remedy, reaffirming the principle that discretionary relief by way of writ will be denied on account of inordinate and unexplained delay,