Jayasuriya vs Silva – CA CASE NO. 550/97-1997

In the case between P.A. Jayasuriya, Renjit Hewavitharana, G. Somawathi (Plaintiffs/Appellants) and M.W. Silva alias Sayaneris Silva (Defendant/Respondent), the court addressed the issue of entitlement to legal ownership and possession of land allocated through the Mahaweli Scheme. The court held that the first plaintiff, having acquired a permit and later a state grant over the disputed property, was entitled to be declared the lawful owner and to recover possession and damages from the defendant, reaffirming that compliance with grant and permit requirements under the Land Development Ordinance suffices to establish legal title. This decision relied on the interpretation of Section 24(1) and (2) of the Land Development Ordinance and the admissibility of fresh evidence on appeal per Ratwa