Leelawathie vs. Perera – sllr 2012 volume 1 page 246

The case between LEELAWATHIE (Plaintiff) and PERERA (Defendant) addressed the issue of whether a widow could claim succession to her deceased husband’s rights as a “permit holder” under the Land Development Ordinance, despite the absence of a formal permit. The court held that succession to the permit-holder’s rights could not be established in the absence of a formal permit and due to the appellant’s failure to take possession within six months as required by the Ordinance. The decision reaffirmed the principle that statutory succession rights under the Land Development Ordinance strictly require compliance with both the formal issuance of a permit and the procedural requirement of timely possession. Relevant statutory provisions, particularly Sections 2 and 68, and established case law w