Rani Punchihewa and another vs Ranjith Punchihewa – CA 873/98-2013

In the case between Ranjith Punchihewa (Plaintiff-Respondent) and Rani Punchihewa and another (Defendants-Appellants), the court examined whether the plaintiff was legally entitled to relief when there was no specific plea or proof of termination of the defendants’ alleged licensee status, though the plaint described the defendant as a licensee. The determination established that, as the issue regarding termination of licensee status was not raised at trial but only on appeal, it could not be entertained, reaffirming the principle that appellate courts will not consider new issues not raised before the trial court. This reasoning relied on the precedent set in Padmini v. Jayaseeli (2004 (3) SLR 13), underscoring that parties are bound by the issues presented at trial, with the appeal dismi