Kavalahinge Shantha Kumara vs Rakwana Range Officer – CA PHC 162/2010-2012

In Kavalahinge Shantha Kumara v. Rakwana Range Officer and Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed the issue of vehicle ownership under the Forest Ordinance in the context of vehicle confiscation proceedings. The principal question was whether Kavalahinge Shantha Kumara was the registered owner of a vehicle at the time an offence was committed and thus eligible for the vehicle’s release. It was held that the appellant was not the registered owner at the date of the offence, and the certificate of registration constituted the best available evidence of ownership. The decisions of both the Magistrate and the High Court, which found against the appellant, were affirmed, with the court reaffirming the legal principle that registered ownership at the relevant time is vital for entitlement to