Keangnam Enterprises Limited vs Karunaratne Wijesekera – CA NO. 118/98 F -2014

In the case between Karunaratne Wijesekera (Plaintiff-Respondent) and Keangnam Enterprises Limited (Defendant-Appellant), the court addressed whether the District Judge erred in awarding Rs. 125,000/- for the first cause of action when the Plaintiff-Respondent’s claim in the plaint was only for Rs. 25,000/-. It was held that the damages should not exceed the amount specifically claimed by the Plaintiff-Respondent. The principle reaffirmed is that a plaintiff cannot be granted relief greater than what is prayed for in the plaint. This decision relied on the review of trial proceedings, established judicial procedure, and the proper application of amounts claimed, emphasizing that awards must be strictly confined to the relief sought in pleadings.

K. T. Chitrasiri J. — The findings establi