Jayakodi Kurundupatabendige Perly Tissa de Silva v. Divisional Secretary, North Nuwaragampalatha, Herath Banda Ratnayaka & The Municipal Council, Anuradhapura – SC APPEAL NO. 55/2012-2019

In the case between Jayakodi Kurundupatabendige Perly Tissa De Silva (Petitioner/Appellant) and the Divisional Secretary (Nuwaragam Palatha – East), Herath Banda Ratnayaka, and The Municipal Council, Anuradhapura (Respondents), the Supreme Court addressed the statutory authority of the Divisional Secretary in issuing the writing marked “P14” that authorized prior occupation of State land before the execution of a formal lease instrument by the President. The court held that the Divisional Secretary lacked such authority and that the petitioner possessed standing to challenge the issuance of “P14.” The decision established that legal possession of State land can only be granted by a formal lease instrument executed by the President, reaffirming the principle that executive authority over St