Hiniduma Liyanage Indunil Loku Bandara vs. Nalani Lokubandara Jayasuriya and Jayasuriya Pilapitiyage Suharda Lokubandara – COC 04/2019-2023

In the case between Hiniduma Liyanage Indunil Loku Bandara (Plaintiff-Accused-Respondent) and Nalani Lokubandara Jayasuriya with Jayasuriya Pilapitiyage Suharda Lokubandara (Defendants/Complainants), the court addressed whether alleged acts—such as breaking and changing locks, harassment, and other conduct in violation of a prior District Court judgment—amounted to contempt of court. It was held that, although the acts were objectionable and potentially actionable under other criminal provisions, the strict legal standard for contempt, namely conduct that undermines the authority of the court or interferes with its due administration, was not satisfied. The decision reaffirmed the principle that not every violation of a court order amounts to contempt unless such conduct brings the authori