Edwin v. Tillakaratne – sllr 2001 volume 3 page 034

In the case between Edwin (Plaintiff) and Tillakaratne (Defendant), the court addressed whether the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act could be used to eject an individual when the Land Acquisition Act has already stipulated an exclusive procedure for such ejectment. It was determined that the procedure under the Land Acquisition Act must be strictly adhered to, given the petitioner’s prior occupation of the premises and status as a “person interested” entitled to compensation for improvements. The principle reaffirmed is that statutory remedies and procedures under a special statute—here, the Land Acquisition Act—prevail over general statutory provisions for state land recovery. Reliance was placed on legal precedents including Senanayake v. Damunupola, clarifying that due process a