Rajapakshalage Prema Jayantha v. Divisional Secretary – SC REFERENCE NO.04/2011-2011

In the case between Rajapakshalage Prema Jayantha (Plaintiff) and the Divisional Secretary of Rajanganaya (Defendant), the court addressed the jurisdictional issue of whether the Civil Appellate High Court was empowered under Article 154P(4)(b) of the Constitution to grant a writ of certiorari against the Divisional Secretary. It was determined that the referral of the matter to the Supreme Court under Article 125 was not warranted, as the proceedings did not involve a genuine question of constitutional interpretation but concerned statutory issues under the Land Development Ordinance and State land administration. The findings established that a mere reliance on constitutional provisions does not automatically require the Supreme Court’s interpretation unless an actual dispute over consti