Ranjith Paul Perera vs Officer in Charge, Police Station, Waduramba – CA PHC APN 08/21-2021

In Ranjith Paul Perera v. Hon. Attorney General and Officer in Charge, Police Station Waduramba, the issue concerned whether a person claiming to have paid for and acquired a vehicle not yet registered in his name at the time of an offense could succeed in a revision application challenging the confiscation of that vehicle under the Animals Act. The case examined the legal interpretation of “owner” in such confiscation proceedings and the required threshold for revision. It was held that “owner” within the meaning attributed by the Animals Act and related case law refers to the registered owner at the relevant time, as established by reference to the Motor Traffic Act. The revision application was dismissed, reaffirming that only registered owners at the time of the offense have standing i