Gnanasundara et al. v. Sirisena et al. – CA 0875/99-1999

In the case between the heirs of the Ihala Lokuhewage and Nanayakkara families (plaintiffs) and Nanayakkara Kudachchige Sirisena, Nanayakkara Kudachchige Leelarathne, and Hapurugala Witharamalage Jane Nona (defendants), the court examined the validity of a deed of gift conveying title to land known as “Nayakadewatta” and the defendants’ assertions of title through adverse possession. It was determined that the deed of gift, properly executed and accepted, vested title in the plaintiffs. The claim for prescriptive rights by the defendants was found unsupported, as possession was deemed permissive and coexistent rather than adverse. Affirmation of the District Judge’s initial decision was based on established legal principles of property inheritance and adverse possession, with explicit refe