Saranguhewage Garvin De Silva vs Lankapura Pradeshiya Sabha et al. – CA AP. NO. 2022/2003-2014

In the case between Saranguhewage Garvin De Silva, representing the voluntary social services organization SUCCESS (Appellant), and Lankapura Pradeshiya Sabha, its Chairman, W.A.J.C. Fernando, and Rev. Fr. Ranjith de Mel (Respondents), the Supreme Court addressed the applicability of the Housing and Town Improvement Ordinance to property within a Pradeshiya Sabha area previously administered by a Village Council. It was held that the Ordinance, as amended, does not apply to such areas unless a resolution to that effect has been adopted by Parliament, and therefore, the construction in dispute did not require prior approval under the Ordinance. The burden to establish the Ordinance’s applicability was found not to have been discharged by the appellant, and the appeal was dismissed. This hol