Rev. Athuthudave Gunasiri Thero, et al. vs. Muthuwelu Manimuththu, et al. – SC FR 452/2008-2018

In the case between the temple officials and resident monks of Sri Wijeyashrama Vihara Sanwardana Samithiya (Petitioners) and the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) officers, Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs, Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development, and other associated parties (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether land originally dedicated to the temple as sanghika property could be transferred validly through subsequent private transactions. The court held that property granted to the temple via Deed 18 retained its status as temple property and that subsequent transactions, including transfers and mortgages executed by Deeds 289, 368, and 369, were null and void due to failure to comply with necessary statutory formalities