Lakshman Ravendra Watawala vs Chandana Karunathilake – SC APPEAL 31/2009-2018

In the case between Lakshman Ravendra Watawala, Chairman/Director General, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (and additional applicants/respondents), and Chandana Karunathilake (respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether an appeal can be entertained against an Order of Ejectment issued by a Magistrate under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act No. 7 of 1979, in light of the express ouster clause in Section 10(2) of the Act. It was held that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain such an appeal, as the statutory framework precludes appellate review of Magistrate’s orders of ejectment. The holding reaffirmed the principle that the right of appeal is subject to express statutory limitation, and jurisdiction must be strictly construed where ouster provisions exist. T