Weerasinghe Arachchige Ramenike vs. Peter Fernandolage John – SC APPEAL 133/2013-2024

In the case between Weerasinghe Arachchige Ramenike (Plaintiff) and Peter Fernandolage John (Defendant), the court addressed the issue of entitlement and possession to Lot 157 under the Land Development Ordinance. The court held that the Plaintiff failed to establish valid title or identify the claimed property with certainty, and the Defendant’s longstanding possession based on a valid permit was lawful, barring the Plaintiff’s claim. This holding reaffirmed the principle that a permit holder under the Land Development Ordinance who is in lawful and continuous possession cannot be displaced by a subsequently issued grant suffering from documentary irregularities. The decision relied on analysis of documentary evidence and statutory interpretation under the Land Development Ordinance, emph