Ravinda De Silva Matarage & Others vs Divisional Secretary, Habaraduwa & Others – CA/WRT/0175/2020-2024

The case between the family members of the late Matarage Hemantha De Silva and various state officials, including the Divisional Secretary, District Secretary, Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, and Rev. Elle Indrashobhana Thero, concerned the legal validity of a Gazette declaration proclaiming certain land (“Thalathuduwa alias Thadladuwa”) as “Sacred.” The court examined whether the Petitioners were the rightful co-owners of the land and the appropriateness of seeking writs of certiorari and mandamus in light of ongoing partition proceedings and disputed material facts. It was held that the extraordinary remedies of writ were not available where material facts remained in dispute and a parallel judicial process was already underway, reaffirming the principle that writ jurisdiction