The Incorporated Trustees of the Sathya Sai Baba Trust of Sri Lanka vs. Cine Printers Limited – SC APPEAL 08/2011-2014

In The Incorporated Trustees of the Sathya Sai Baba Trust of Sri Lanka v. Cine Printers Limited, the court addressed whether a company tenant had attorned to a new landlord following a transfer of premises, and whether failure to expressly accept this new landlord and pay rent amounted to repudiation of tenancy and trespass. It was held that continuous occupation, absent express attornment and timely rent payment, constitutes repudiation of tenancy, thus entitling the landlord to seek ejection and damages. The judgment reaffirmed the principle that valid attornment requires express or clearly implied acceptance of the new landlord’s title, in line with precedents such as Seelawathie Vs. Ediriweera and Gunasekera Vs. Jinadasa. The court relied on established property law and ruled for immed