P. H. Gunasena vs M. L. Wijedasa and others – CA CPA. 29/2022-2023

In the case between P. H. Gunasena (Petitioner) and M. L. Wijedasa, together with other officials from the Agrarian Services and Hon. Attorney General’s Department (Respondents), the court considered whether a site inspection, referenced as “පෙ2”, constituted a formal inquiry under Section 90(1) of the Agrarian Development Services Act or was only a preliminary inspection. The legal issue centered on the application of statutory inquiry procedures and the propriety of the High Court’s dismissal of the writ application. It was established that the site inspection document did not amount to a formal inquiry as contemplated by the Act. The revisionary application was accordingly dismissed, reaffirming that only inquiries held in accordance with the statutory framework possess legal validity.