Silva and Others vs Minister of Lands and Land Development and Minor Exports and Others – sllr 2008 volume 1 page 187

In the case between SLIVSA and others (petitioners) and the Minister of Lands and Land Development and Minor Exports and others (respondents), the court addressed whether the Court of Appeal had jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus compelling the revocation of a vesting order made under the Land Acquisition Act and the Urban Development Projects (Special Provisions) Act, particularly when the original public purpose for acquisition had ceased to exist. The dispute stemmed from land acquired in 1992 for an urban development project, where possession remained with the petitioners and no development transpired. It was held that the absence of a continuing public purpose, as evidenced by prolonged government inaction and non-utilization of the land, invalidated the grounds for compulsory a