Ranabahu Mudiyanselage Senarath Bandara Ranabahu vs Ranabahu Mudiyanselage Ranjith Jayatissa – SC Appeal 67/2019-2025

The court addressed the issue of whether State land permit holders are entitled to a declaration of ownership, their right to possession, and the consequential right to eject a trespasser. It was held that while permit holders are not entitled to a declaration of ownership of State land, they possess sufficient title to vindicate possession against a trespasser and are entitled to an order of eviction, reaffirming the principle that a permit holder has a sufficient title to vindicate possession against a trespasser. This decision relied on precedents such as ‘Palisena v Perera’ and ‘Mohammath Ismail Maraikkar Avvakuddy v Atham Lebbe Seiynutheen’, emphasizing that courts can grant lesser relief than what was prayed for and clarifying the possessory rights of permit holders against third par