Galbokka Hewage Chamith Lasantha & Another vs. Eng. R. A. S. Ranawaka & Others – CA/WRT/0507/2023-2024

In the case between Galbokka Hewage Chamith Lasantha and Galbokka Hewage Ranil Prasanna (Petitioners) and officials of the Coast Conservation and Coastal Development Department and the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing including Eng. R. A. S. Ranawaka and Eng. L. D. Ruhunage (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether longstanding possession and claimed title of the Petitioners to coastal property legitimized unauthorized constructions absent regulatory approval. It was determined that the Petitioners lacked good title, and that the constructions were unauthorized under the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Act No. 57 of 1981, rendering the demolition orders by Respondents valid. The holding reaffirmed the principle that statutory requirements for perm