Nihal Munasinghe vs. P. M. H. Priyadharshani – CA/WRT/0291/2020-2024

The case between Nihal Munasinghe (Petitioner) and P. M. H. Priyadharshani, Commissioner General of Land Title Settlement, Nilmini U. Nawarathna, Registrar of Title, Registrar General’s Department, among others, addressed the issue of whether the issuance of a 1st class title certificate to a third party was valid given the Petitioner’s claims of long-term possession, and whether due process under the Title Registration Act was observed, particularly in relation to publication requirements and timing of the challenge. It was determined that statutory procedures, including gazette publication and investigation, had been properly followed by the Respondents. The findings established that an unexplained six-year delay in seeking a writ of relief constituted laches sufficient to bar the applic