Ranil de Silva vs. Director-General, Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department – CA COC/10/2016-2023

Brief
In the case between Ranil de Silva (Applicant) and The Director-General of Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department and others (Respondents), the court addressed whether the issuance and execution of a development permit, specifically regarding the construction of a water tower, violated the Coastal Zone Management Plan and interim court orders. It was held that the evidence provided—comprising photographs, affidavits, and documents—was insufficient to establish contempt for breaching court-imposed restrictions on construction. The principle reaffirmed is that the burden of proving contempt is stringent, and in the absence of clear evidence of violation, contempt proceedings cannot be sustained. Reliance was placed on legal standards for injunctive relief and c