Meragal Pedige Darmadasa vs Meragal Pedige Dayaratne – CA NO. 993/2000-2013

In the case between Meragal Pedige Darmadasa (Plaintiff) and Meragal Pedige Dayaratne, Meragal Pedige Karunawathie, Peththamaru Durayalage Punni, Peththamaru Durayalage Adman, Peththamaru Durayalage Karunaratne (5th Defendant/Appellant), and Jayalath Pedige Meniki (Defendants), the court addressed the issue of entitlement to an undivided 1/3 share of land in the context of competing claims based on title by deed and prescriptive title. It was held that the rival claim of the 2nd and 6th Defendants, based on prescription, prevailed over the 5th Defendant/Appellant’s mere paper title, reaffirming the principle that possession and prescriptive rights take precedence over mere registration of title in partition actions. This decision relied on principles of prescription and relevant land statu