Jinawathie and Others v. Emalin Perera – sllr 1986 volume 2 page 121

In the case between Jinawathie and Others (plaintiffs) and Emalin Perera (defendant), the court addressed the issue of whether the statutory determination under the Land Reform Law No. 1 of 1972 effectively vested agricultural land exceeding 50 acres in the Land Reform Commission, and whether the plaintiff-respondent, as a statutory lessee, held a defendable title and right to exclusive possession against the appellants. It was held that the vesting procedures, including the statutory determination, were properly fulfilled, thereby enabling the statutory lessee to vindicate title and possession. The principle reaffirmed was that upon proper compliance with statutory requirements, title passes to the statutory lessee, who may maintain an action for declaration and ejectment under the statut