Mary Leslin Mendis and T. Jayendra Mendis vs Land Reform Commission et al. – SC APPEAL NO. 90/2009-2016

In the case between Mary Leslin Mendis and T. Jayendra Mendis (Petitioners) and the Land Reform Commission, its Chairman (A. L. M. Fernando), the Director of Land Ceiling, and the Minister of Agriculture and Lands (Respondents), the court addressed the legality of the Land Reform Commission’s actions regarding the inter-family transfer of land under the Land Reform Law, specifically section 22(1)(a) and (bb). The principal issue concerned whether correct statutory provisions were applied and whether ministerial approval was rightly sought for such transfers, as well as the appropriateness of discretionary writ remedies in the presence of disputed facts and alleged non-disclosure. It was held that although certain legal questions favored the petitioners, the appeal was dismissed based on th