Mary Helen Martin Christoffelez vs Elrea Joseph Romould Pereira et al. – SC APPEAL 37/2012-2016

Brief
In the case between Mary Helen Martin Christoffelez (Appellant) and Elrea Joseph Romould Pereira, Mary Theresa Bright Kariyawasam, and the Archbishop of Colombo (Respondents), the Supreme Court addressed the interpretation of Clause 8 of the Last Will of Mary Helen Oorloff. The principal issue was whether rights to the proceeds from the sale of House No. 31, Lily Avenue, Wellawatta, vested immediately in heirs or were contingent upon fulfillment of specified conditions. The inheritance rights of Doreen Bright Pereira’s children were examined in the context of her death before conclusion of the testamentary proceedings. It was held that the District Court’s construction of the will was correct, maintaining the rights of resident heirs, and the High Court’s revision was set aside. The