Kasun Jeewantha Ratnayake vs W. S. Senaratne – CA 350/1998 F -2011

The case between Kasun Jeewantha Ratnayake (Plaintiff-Respondent, a minor represented by R. M. Jayasekera) and W. S. Senaratne (Defendant-Appellant) addressed the issue of whether an ex-parte judgment entered due to the Defendant’s absence could be set aside based on alleged non-service of summons. It was determined that substituted service by pasting summons at the Defendant’s residence met legal requirements, and the Defendant had failed to establish reasonable grounds for non-appearance. The court reaffirmed the principle that appellate courts do not interfere with findings of fact unless error is evident, relying on the Civil Procedure Code §88(2) and related case law. The holding underscored that compliance with procedural service requirements suffices unless clear evidence contrary i