K.T.D.S.N. De Silva and Others v. Salinda Dissanayake, – sllr 2003 volume 1 page 052

The case between K.T.D.S.N. De Silva and Others and Salinda Dissanayake, Minister of Land Development and Minor Agricultural Export Produce and Others addressed the jurisdiction for writ applications of mandamus to divest land acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, specifically under section 39A. It was determined that such applications, when concerning an omission to divest following undue delay in project implementation under the Urban Development Projects (Special Provisions) Act No. 2 of 1980, do not fall within the exclusive jurisdiction conferred on the Supreme Court by section 4 of the Act. The principle reaffirmed is that the Court of Appeal retains jurisdiction over applications related to statutory omissions, unless clearly ousted by statute. The reasoning relied on statutory i