A.W.K.A. Gunasekera alias Ashley Gunasekera vs Divisional Secretary-Colombo & Urban Development Authority – CA (Writ) 0074 / 2025-2025

The case involved A.W.K.A. Gunasekera alias Ashley Gunasekera (PETITIONER) against the Divisional Secretary-Colombo (1st RESPONDENT) and Urban Development Authority (2nd RESPONDENT). The central issue was the 1st Respondent’s failure to pay Rs. 75,254,000 in compensation for land acquired from the Petitioner. The land had a complex history of acquisition (1977), divestment to the Petitioner (1993), and reacquisition (2021). Compensation, determined under Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, was consented to by the Petitioner, leading to the withdrawal of a prior application. The court determined that the 1st Respondent neglected a public duty due to extensive delays and inefficiency, causing hardship to the Petitioner, and that internal arrangements between state bodies should not preju