Dias Vs Wanigaratne – SLR – 225, Vol 1 of 2005 – sllr 2005 volume 1 page 225

In DIAS v. WANIGARATNE, the court addressed whether the High Court of the Uva Province possessed jurisdiction to revise an eviction order made by the Magistrate’s Court of Nuwara Eliya, which is situated in the Central Province. The findings established that the Uva Provincial High Court lacked jurisdiction, as appellate and revisionary powers are territorially confined under Article 154P(3)(b) of the Constitution and the Thirteenth Amendment. It was determined that the Minister’s power under section 3 of the Judicature Act to demarcate judicial zones does not extend to overriding constitutional limitations. The order of the High Court of the Uva Province was accordingly set aside, reaffirming that judicial authority under the Constitution cannot be extended by subordinate legislation or m