State Graphite Corporation v. K.S.P.D. Fernando and Another – sllr 1982 volume 2 page 684

In the case between State Graphite Corporation (later known as State Mining and Minerals Corporation) and K.S.P.D. Fernando and another, the court addressed the issue of the effective date of title vesting in the Corporation concerning Kahatagaha Mines, specifically whether title passed on the execution of the contractual Agreement (21 April 1972) or on the Vesting Order date (18 December 1973). The holding established that legal title transferred only upon the Vesting Order under the Mines and Minerals Law No.4 of 1973, not upon agreement execution. The principle that contractual language must clearly indicate intent to transfer title was reaffirmed, and terms such as “transfer” and “taking over” were insufficient without formal conveyancing elements. Relevant statutory interpretation and