Anulawathie v. Gunapala and Another – sllr 1998 volume 1 page 063

In the case between Anulawathie (plaintiff-appellant) and Gunapala and Another (defendant-respondents), the court addressed the issue of dissolution of marriage on the ground of constructive malicious desertion, along with related claims concerning adultery, ill-treatment, and alimony. It was held that the trial court erred in dismissing the action by unduly relying on contradictory evidence regarding the plaintiff-appellant’s departure, and by failing to properly assess evidence of expulsive circumstances. The principle affirmed is that minor discrepancies in witness testimony should not outweigh substantive uncontroverted evidence when evaluating claims of desertion. The decision drew on established standards for the evaluation of evidence in matrimonial causes and the proper basis for a