Kaalanchiyalage Lily Nona and others vs Hon. S. M. Chandrasena, Minister of Lands and others – CA WRIT APPLICATION NO. 21/2014-2021

In the case between Kaalanchiyalage Lily Nona and others (as Petitioners) and Hon. S. M. Chandrasena (Minister of Lands) and others (as Respondents), the court addressed whether the production and acceptance of an Extraordinary Gazette filed by the Respondents could be objected to in a writ application seeking to quash a land acquisition order made under section 38 proviso (a) of the Land Acquisition Act, No. 9 of 1950 (as amended). The court determined that the Gazette, being a public document, must be judicially noticed and its acceptance does not cause prejudice but serves to clarify the substantive issues in dispute. The objection to the production of the Gazette was overruled, reinforcing the legal principle that courts are required to accept public documents in the proceedings before