Rodrigo v. Balasuriya and Others – sllr 2002 volume 3 page 049

In the case between the Administrator of Lai Rodrigo’s estate (Plaintiff-Appellant) and the individuals representing the estate of Roslyn Rodrigo (Defendant-Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether vehicle registration serves as conclusive proof of ownership in testamentary proceedings regarding a disputed Rolls Royce automobile. It was held that vehicle registration under the Motor Car Ordinance does not conclusively determine ownership; instead, ownership must be established through examination of the entirety of the evidence, including possession, inventories, and purchase history. The principle reaffirmed is that registration is primarily evidentiary for administrative obligations, not determinative of proprietary rights. The decision relied on relevant sections of the Ci