Kangane Arachchilage Bandappuhay v. Madurasinghe Mudiyanselage Ranhamy and others – 200/2000-2020

In the case between Kangane Arachchilage Bandappuhay (substituted by Kangane Arachchilage Gunawathie) and Madurasinghe Mudiyanselage Ranhamy along with several individuals from Siyambalagaharuppa and surrounding areas, the court addressed whether the plaintiff was entitled to a partition of the land known as Pahalawelawatte in Siyabalagasruppe and whether the dismissal of the plaintiff’s action for lack of possession was justified. It was held that sufficient evidence established both title and possession for the plaintiff, with the District Judge’s dismissal based on errors in assessing the evidence and the application of Kandyan law regarding inheritance and marital status. The findings emphasized that the burden to prove a ‘Deega marriage’ affecting inheritance was on the defendants, wh