Municipal Council of Badulla v. Ratnayake – 1978_79 volume 2 page 141

In the case of Ratnayake v. Municipal Council of Badulla, the court addressed whether a Municipal Council, licensed under the Electricity Act, was obligated to supply electricity to lawful occupiers regardless of the intended use, even when the use may contravene local zoning or regulatory restrictions. It was held that the statutory duty imposed by the Electricity Act to provide electricity operates independently of any consideration of the intended purpose, and a breach of this duty entitles the applicant to damages without the need to establish negligence or malice. This principle was established through an analysis of statutory provisions and relevant authorities, reinforcing the view that the Council’s refusal, based on considerations external to the Act, was actionable. The decision