Abeyratne vs. Ceylon Electricity Board et al. – SC F/R NO. 222/2016-2022

In the case between Viraj Priyankara Abeyratne and several public authorities, including the Ceylon Electricity Board and its officials, the court addressed the issue of violation of constitutional rights under Article 12(1) due to the unauthorized installation of electricity lines on private land, and the improper reclassification of a private road as public. The sequence of events established that the Petitioner constructed a private road and repeatedly objected to the unauthorized drawing of electricity lines across his property; these objections were disregarded by the Respondents, who proceeded with administrative approvals without following the legally required procedure, including the bypassing of a mandatory inquiry regarding way leave. It was determined that the Respondents’ actio