Ranasinghe v. Nandanie Abeydeera – sllr 1997 volume 3 page 401

In Ranasinghe v. Nandanie Abeydeera and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, the issue concerned whether non-compliance with section 16 of the Civil Procedure Code—requiring representative notice in suits against unincorporated associations—was a fatal irregularity. The proceedings previously culminated in a District Court judgment for the plaintiff concerning damages arising from a fatal accident. On appeal, it was held that strict compliance with section 16 is mandatory to avoid the impracticality of summoning all individual members of an unincorporated body. Non-compliance invalidates proceedings and necessitates a retrial after proper notice. This principle, established by reference to Suppiah Pulle v. Ramanathan and relevant statutory provisions, underscores the necessity for representative p