G. A. Panis vs Pulanhinige Jayasena – CA 406/1997-2011

The case between G. A. Panis (Plaintiff-Appellant) and Pulanhinige Jayasena and others (Defendants-Respondents) concerned a partition suit over the property known as ‘Yawitawatte.’ The central issue was whether the plaintiff established lawful possession and co-ownership necessary for partition, or whether the defendants had acquired ownership by prescriptive title through long-term exclusive possession. The court determined that the plaintiff failed to prove possession or co-ownership, while the defendants successfully demonstrated prescriptive possession, thereby establishing full title to the property. Reference was made to established precedents (including 14 NLR 255 & 14 NLR 233/234), reinforcing the legal principle that exclusive and uninterrupted possession over the statutory period