Periyan v. Amerasinghe, Chairman, Board No. 4, Janatha Estates Development Board – sllr 1994 volume 1 page 418

In the case between Periyan (Petitioner) and Amerasinghe, Chairman, Board No. 4, Janatha Estates Development Board (Respondent), the court addressed whether occupation of government quarters by the petitioner was governed by the Government Quarters (Recovery of Possession) Act No. 7 of 1969 or by common law principles. It was determined that the statutory provisions of the Act apply to all occupants, including those occupying under humanitarian grounds, and not common law. The holding affirmed the validity of the “quit notice” issued under Section 3 of the Act and upheld the Magistrate’s order for possession, reaffirming that statutory procedures override common law where specific legislation exists for recovery of government quarters. Reliance was placed on Section 2 of the Act, establish