Seneriya Ranasinghe Pathmarajah Liyanaarachchi vs Manatungage Isilin Nona – SC APPEAL 122/17-2024

Brief
In the case between Manatungage Isilin Nona and Seneriya Ranasinghe Pathmarajah (including associated parties and Rosa Schneider as lessee), the court addressed the validity and effect of a 99-year lease agreement, the lawfulness of the defendant’s possession of the disputed land as agent or licensee for the lessee, and the applicability of res judicata and issue estoppel. The findings established that the defendant’s possession and actions on the land were undertaken with authority granted by Rosa Schneider under the lease, and that the doctrines of res judicata and issue estoppel did not bar the defense on the present facts. The Supreme Court determined that no right of ejectment vested in the plaintiff since the defendant was not a trespasser but acted lawfully as an authorized ag