D.P. Steewen vs P.A.T.M.E.J. Perera – CA PHC 191/2007-2013

In the case between D.P. Steewen (Manjula Motors, Hingurakgoda) and P.A.T.M.E.J. Perera (No.1126, Unagala Wehera), the court addressed whether an appeal should be permitted to proceed in circumstances where the appellant was absent, unrepresented, and failed to deposit brief fees as mandated by court procedure. The appeal was rejected on procedural grounds, based on the findings that notice had been duly served, the appellant was neither present nor represented, and essential brief fees were not deposited. This decision reaffirmed the principle that procedural compliance, including the payment of required court fees, constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for the continuation of appellate proceedings. Reliance was placed on relevant civil procedural rules to uphold the rejection of the app