Ferdinands v. Pilimatalawa – sllr 1980 volume 2 page 177

In the case between the landlord (respondent) and the tenant (appellant), the court addressed the issue of whether the premises were reasonably required for the landlord’s occupation as a residence under the Rent Act. It was held that the landlord had established reasonable requirement given the circumstances, and that the tenant had failed to provide sufficient evidence regarding the availability of alternative accommodation. The principle was reaffirmed that the burden rests upon the party asserting lack of alternative accommodation under section 22(1)(bb) of the Rent Act No. 7 of 1972. The decision relied upon statutory interpretation and prior case law, emphasizing that factual circumstances surrounding the parties’ conditions and evidence are decisive in such applications under the Re