Ekanayake Ratnayake Wasala Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Dukganna Walawwe Madduma Bandara Ratnayake vs Land Reform Commission – CA NO. 99/95 F-2011

In the case between Ekanayake Ratnayake Wasala Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Dukganna Walawwe (substituted by Punchi Bandara Ratnayake) and the Land Reform Commission, the court addressed the issue of entitlement to an undivided share of agricultural land known as Miyanadeniya Kande Henyaya. It was determined that an action for declaration of title could not be maintained due to the vesting of the land in the Land Reform Commission under the Land Reform Law No. 1 of 1972 and the absence of compliance with the statutory procedure required for disputes arising from such vesting. The holding reaffirmed the principle that the burden of proof in rei vindicatio actions rests with the plaintiff, who must establish title by the strength of their own claim and not by highlighting deficiencies in the respo