Mahindra Ratwatte vs Ranhoti Pendige Hemantha Wijesinghe – CA RII 27/2018-2022

In the case between Mahindra Ratwatte, Basnayake Nilame of Sri Vishnu Maha Dewalaya and Sri Dedimunda Dewalaya (Petitioner) and Ranhoti Pendige Hemantha Wijesinghe, Ethugal Pendige Indika Thushara, and others (Plaintiff Respondents and Defendant Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the interlocutory and final partition decrees in District Court Kegalle Case No. 27064/P should be set aside for failure to conduct a proper investigation into title as required by section 25 of the Partition Law, No. 21 of 1977. It was held that the lower court’s decrees were invalid due to non-compliance with the mandatory investigative duties regarding ownership and title, reaffirming the principle that courts must strictly investigate title before making partition decrees. The decision reli