Bhathiya A Udugampola and others Vs. Central Environmental Authority and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO: 53/17-2021

In the case between Bhathiya A Udugampola and Bhathiya Trading Company (Pvt.) Limited (petitioners) and the Central Environmental Authority and others (respondents), the court addressed whether it was lawful and reasonable for government authorities to demarcate the boundary of Bolgoda Lake using a 19th-century field sheet for purposes of environmental protection and eviction of alleged encroachers. The court determined that reliance on such an outdated and unofficial document for boundary identification was unreasonable, and issued a Writ of Prohibition against its use for the petitioners’ land. The principle reaffirmed is that administrative actions concerning land boundaries must be based on accurate and modern evidence, not antiquated and informal documentation. The decision relied on