Warnakulasuriya Aloysius Fernando vs. Warnakulasuriya Benitus Franklin Fernando – CA CASE NO. 186/2000-2000

In the case between Warnakulasuriya Aloysius Fernando (original plaintiff, later substituted by his children) and Warnakulasuriya Benitus Franklin Fernando (defendant/appellant), the court addressed whether a deed of gift, described as irrevocable and executed by the plaintiff in favor of the defendant, could be revoked on the ground of gross ingratitude. It was held that proof of gross ingratitude entitled the plaintiff to the revocation of the deed, even where the deed specified irrevocability, reaffirming the principle under Roman-Dutch law that judicial revocation is permitted for grave acts of ingratitude. This decision relied on established Sri Lankan precedents and Roman-Dutch legal authorities, emphasizing that slighter misconduct does not suffice but egregious abuse does, thus uph