Gunapala v. Babynona – sllr 1986 volume 2 page 374

In the case between Gunapala (Plaintiff) and Babynona (Defendant), the court addressed whether a tenancy created by a lessor holding only a usufructuary (life) interest is terminated by the lessor’s death, and if a co-owner successor could eject the tenant for failure to attorn. It was held that a lease granted by a landlord possessing merely a life interest dissolves upon the landlord’s death, rendering subsequent occupation by the tenant wrongful in the absence of attornment. This holding reaffirmed the principle that a tenancy cannot subsist beyond the lifespan of a lessor with only a life interest. Reliance was placed upon authorities including Fernando v. Silva and Mohamed v. Public Trustee, underscoring that tenants in such circumstances must attorn to the remainderman or risk ejectm