Dona Podi Nona Ranaweera Menike v. Rohini Senanayake – sllr 1992 volume 2 page 180

In the case between Ranaviraratne Arachchige Dona Podi Nona Ranaweera Menike (donor-parent) and Mallawa Arachchige Rohini Senanayake (donee), the court addressed whether a gift of immovable property executed in consideration of marriage, but subject to a reserved life interest, constituted a revocable ordinary gift or an irrevocable “donatio propter nuptias.” The issue further concerned whether proof of gross ingratitude, namely an assault by the donee on the donor-parents, permitted revocation of the gift. It was held that the deed, despite referencing the marriage, was an ordinary gift due to the reserved life interest and lacked the attributes of a donatio propter nuptias. The evidence of gross ingratitude justified revocation of the gift. The principle reaffirmed is that a gift made ou