Jayawardena v. The Commissioner of Lands – sllr 1999 volume 3 page 391

In Kalu Banda (petitioner) v. Upali (respondent), the court addressed the lawfulness of the cancellation of a State land lease permit, focusing on procedural compliance under the State Lands Ordinance and the Land Development Ordinance. It was determined that the cancellation, executed without giving the petitioner an opportunity to be heard, contravened statutory requirements and the principles of natural justice. The decision reaffirmed that when canceling a State land lease permit, adherence to prescribed procedures ensuring a fair hearing is mandatory. These findings relied on the relevant statutory framework, emphasizing the necessity of procedural fairness and the impermissibility of arbitrary administrative action.

Hector Yapa J. — It was held that cancellation of the lease permit