Times of Ceylon Ltd. v. Sirimavo, R.D. Bandaranaike – sllr 1991 volume 1 page 263

In the case between Sirimavo R.D. Bandaranaike (respondent) and Times of Ceylon Ltd. (defendant-petitioner), the court addressed the issue of liability for defamatory statements published in a newspaper, considering the effect of a vesting order that had transferred the newspaper business to the Government. The court determined that maintenance of the ex parte judgment was improper as the defendant had ceased newspaper operations by reason of the vesting order. It was held that liability for the alleged defamation could not attach to the defendant-petitioner after such transfer, and that it would be unjust to uphold the ex parte judgment. The decision reaffirmed the legal principle that revisionary powers must be exercised to prevent palpable injustice, referencing relevant authorities on