Bank of Ceylon vs Develo Ltd. – CA 446/99-2012

The case between Bank of Ceylon and Develo Ltd. concerned the legal status of the Defendant-Appellant following claims that the company had been struck off the register of companies. It was determined that the Defendant-Appellant had indeed been struck off, rendering it non-existent for the purposes of legal proceedings. Citing the effect of a company’s removal from the register on its legal standing, the court held that such status precludes the continuation of any pending appeal on behalf of the removed entity. The decision underscores the principle that appeals cannot proceed where a party ceases to exist as a legal person, emphasizing the definitive impact of striking-off under company law statutes.

A.W.A. Salam J. — After consideration of the documentary evidence submitted by counse