Daya Weththasinghe v. Mala Ranawaka – sllr 1989 volume 1 page 086

In the case between Mala Ranawaka (Plaintiff-Respondent) and Daya Weththashinghe (Defendant-Petitioner), the court addressed the classification of disputed premises under the Rent Act, specifically whether they constituted residential or business (excepted) premises, and whether the observations made by the trial judge during an inspection created a risk of bias, thereby justifying a transfer of proceedings. The findings established that the inspection revealed clear indications of commercial usage, calling into question the impartiality of the trial process. The court held that in the interests of justice, the matter warranted transfer to another judge, affirming the legal principle that any appearance of bias or pre-judgment in judicial proceedings requires remedial action to uphold a fa