Madawala v. Ratnayake – sllr 2002 volume 2 page 133

In the case between Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Somadasa Madawala (Plaintiff-Appellant) and the Defendant-Respondent (the party claiming title via operation of the Abolition of Fideicommissa and Entails Act, No. 20 of 1972), the court addressed whether the 1962 transfer of life interest by Bibsie, the original fiduciary, precluded any later vesting of absolute title in Bibsie under the statutory regime. The court held that the transfer of the life interest before the commencement of the Act resulted in Bibsie retaining no dominium rights, and therefore the property vested absolutely in the subsequent transferees, validating their title and the transfers effected thereafter. This decision was based on interpretation of sections 4, 6, and 7 of the Act, confirming that rights and title already pa