Maddage Semapala v. Devika Weerakoon et al. – CA NO. 564/96 F -2011

In Maddage Semapala v. Devika Weerakoon and others, the court addressed the construction of Deed of Gift No. 19977 dated 3 January 1906 relating to the partition of the land known as Indigahagodalla. The main issue concerned whether the deed conveyed only 1/3 of Aranolis’s rights or an undivided 1/3 share of the whole land to the grantees, affecting the proper investigation of title in the partition action. The findings established that the deed transferred an undivided 1/3 share of the entire land rather than a fractional portion of Aranolis’s 7/12 interest. It was affirmed that the District Judge’s interpretation of the deed was rational and consistent with the terms of the instrument. The principle reaffirmed was that clear language in deeds governs the construction of property interest