Rohan W. Welangalle vs Okandapola Arachchillage Wasantha Kumara – CA NO. 627/99 F-2013

The case between Rohan W. Welangalle (Plaintiff/Respondent) and Hasantha Priyadarshana Ranasinghe (2nd Defendant/Appellant), among others, addressed whether sufficient and reasonable grounds—specifically, the Appellant’s illness and attorney negligence—justified setting aside an ex-parte decree under Section 86(1) of the Civil Procedure Code. It was determined that neither illness of the party nor negligence on the part of counsel constitutes reasonable cause to displace the procedural effect of an ex-parte decree. The principle reaffirmed required strict compliance with statutory deadlines and procedural obligations in civil litigation. The holding relied on Section 84 of the Civil Procedure Code and supporting precedents, establishing that absence through attorney error or personal ill h