Saheed v. Wickramanayake – sllr 1981 volume 2 page 067

In the case between the landlord (plaintiff, later represented by the plaintiff’s widow) and the tenant (defendant, subsequently represented by the defendant’s widow), the court addressed the issue of whether the defendant was in arrears with rent for three months or more under the Rent Restriction Act, and the validity of the notice terminating the tenancy. It was held that the plaintiff established the existence of substantial arrears and that the notice terminating the tenancy was valid under the amended statute. This decision reaffirmed the principle that a tenant making a positive assertion of payment bears the evidential burden to prove such payments, especially where receipts or corroborating evidence is required. The reasoning drew upon the evidentiary allocation and statutory noti