Weragoda and Others v. Peiris and Others – sllr 1996 volume 2 page 056

In the case between the Plaintiff/Respondent (including representative of the estate of James D’ Alwis) and the Appellants/Defendants, the court addressed the issue of whether the plaintiff’s claim based on paper title and inheritance could prevail against the appellants’ assertion of prescriptive title derived from limited possession. It was held that the plaintiff’s documentary and inheritance-based title was established through historical survey plans and deeds, and that the appellants’ limited right of possession did not meet the threshold required for adverse possession. The principle reaffirmed is that mere possession of an undivided share or limited occupancy does not commence prescriptive acquisition against the true owner. The decision relied on established property law and the in