Munasinghe Arachchilage Nansihami and other vs Pradeshiya Sabha Polonnaruwa and others – CA/WRT/0551/21-2025

The case between Munasinghe Arachchilage Nansihami, Pastor Hasitha Nuwan Kumara, et al. (Petitioners) and the Pradeshiya Sabha, its officials, Divisional Secretariat, Urban Development Authority, a Police Station official, and the Attorney General (Respondents), addressed the issue of whether administrative authorities breached their statutory duty by refusing to grant a construction permit despite the Petitioners’ submission of documents. The holding established that the Petitioners had not exhausted all available alternative remedies prior to seeking judicial review under Article 140 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and that the application lacked merit. The court reaffirmed that judicial review is discretionary, and that exhausting alternative remedies is a prerequisite unless exceptio