Hikkaduwa Edmond Silva and Don Pilip Jayaranjan Weerasinghe vs Sangama Ariyaratne and M. Palliyaguruge Dayawathie – CA SOS/92 F -2011

In the case between Sangama Ariyaratne (Plaintiffs/Respondents) and Don Dilip Jayaranjan Weerasinghe (Substituted 7th Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner) and Hikkaduwa Edmond Silva (6th Defendant-Appellant), the court addressed the issue of lawful title and inheritance to a parcel of land. It was held that the trial judge had lawfully evaluated and accepted the Plaintiffs’ pedigree and supporting deeds while properly rejecting the Defendants’ claim of title by purchase and prescription. The principle reaffirmed was that careful evaluation of documentary and oral evidence, rather than the necessity to comment on each individual deed, is sufficient to determine title in partition proceedings. The decision relied on procedural standards for partition and prescription under applicable statutes and