Ratnayake v. Dassanayake – sllr 2003 volume 1 page 170

In Ratnayake v. Dassanayake, the court addressed whether relief for defamation could be granted by the District Court when the plaintiff’s amended plaint pleaded facts supporting both malicious prosecution and defamation. It was held that the trial court was justified in granting relief for defamation, even when the original cause of action centered on malicious prosecution, provided the pleadings encompassed facts sustaining both claims. The principle reaffirmed that a plaintiff is not restricted to advancing a single cause of action if the facts pleaded substantiate more than one. Reference was made to authorities such as Dodwell v John, confirming the proper legal approach. The appeal was dismissed, underscoring the sufficiency of the amended plaint and the procedural legitimacy of gran