Aloysius Silva v. Upali Silva – sllr 1982 volume 2 page 709

In the case between the owner of a coconut and fibre mill (appellant) and the tenant cultivator/owner of the Galakumbura paddy field (respondent), the court addressed the issue of strict liability for damage caused by the escape of dirty, artificially stored water from the appellant’s land onto the respondent’s paddy field. It was determined that the appellant, having constructed embankments for the storage of dirty coconut water used in fertilizer production, became absolutely liable under the principle in Rylands v. Fletcher when the water escaped and damaged the respondent’s crop, despite precautionary measures and the absence of negligence. The holding reaffirmed the principle that parties who bring and accumulate inherently dangerous or potentially harmful substances on their land do