Sivagnanalingam v. Suntheralingam – sllr 1988 volume 1 page 086

In the case between Nagalingham Sivagnanalingam (petitioner-appellant, the deceased’s brother) and the deceased’s widow (respondent), the Supreme Court addressed whether the law of Thesawalamai applied to the deceased’s estate based on the concepts of domicile and inhabitancy. It was determined that the deceased, being a Jaffna Tamil who resided in Colombo for employment, maintained his permanent home and links with Jaffna, thus remaining an inhabitant under Thesawalamai. The findings established that mere residence for work outside Jaffna did not sever his status as a permanent inhabitant. The appeal was allowed, granting letters of administration to the petitioner-appellant and dismissing the widow’s application, while affirming her limited monetary claim. This decision reaffirmed the pr