Sunil Rathnayake v. K.H.G. Sirisena – 103/99 F -2015

The case between Sunil Rathnayake (Plaintiff-Appellant) and K.H.G. Sirisena (Defendant-Respondent) addressed the enforceability of a real property permit and the rights and obligations arising from a monetary agreement relating to the temporary transfer of possession. The dispute focused on whether the Appellant’s permit was invalidated by alleged transfer of possession contrary to permit conditions, and whether an agreement to transfer the lease upon default of repayment could be enforced against the Mahaweli Authority, which had not been a party to the agreement. It was held that only the Authority could revoke or cancel the permit, and that the agreement lacked legal efficacy in the absence of the Authority’s involvement. The decision reaffirmed the principle that conditions attaching t