Dias Nagahawatte v. Alwis Appuhamy – sllr 1987 volume 1 page 288

In the case between Dias Nagahawatte (Plaintiff) and Alwis Appuhamy (Defendant), the court addressed whether the plaintiff was engaged in the business of money lending under the provisions of the Money Lending Ordinance and the legal consequences of failing to maintain proper books of accounts as mandated by the statute. It was held that systematic, repeated, and continuous money lending through various financial instruments demonstrated the existence of a professional money lending business, not mere occasional lending. The court reaffirmed the principle that the maintenance of proper accounts is essential for professional money lenders, referring to statutory requirements and relevant case law to emphasize that failure in this respect disqualifies recovery through legal action. This deci