Land Reform Commission v. Rev. Ganegama Sangarakkita Thero – sllr 1987 volume 2 page 411

In the case between the Trustee of Budulena Raja Maha Vihara (representing the interests of the temple) and the Land Reform Commission (LRC), the court addressed the issue of whether state land, classified as viharagam or land held in trust under the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance and leased to a public company, is subject to the land ceiling under the Land Reform Law. The court held that such leased land did not fall within the scope intended for vesting in the LRC, emphasizing that possession by a lessee, pursuant to a notarial lease, does not trigger the vesting provisions under section 42A of the Amending Law. This decision reaffirmed the principle that statutory terms, such as “possessed,” must be interpreted in harmony with legislative intent and contextual usage within the statute