Nirmal Paper Converters (Pvt) Ltd. v. Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Another – sllr 1993 volume 1 page 219

The case between Nirmal Paper Converters (Pvt) Ltd. and Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Another addressed the issue of whether a petitioner, identified solely as a licensee making payments for use and occupation rather than a lawful tenant, could lawfully challenge an eviction notice issued under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act. It was held that such a petitioner is not entitled to the protections afforded to lawful tenants and that the procedural safeguards governing ex parte stay orders had not been observed. The case reaffirmed the principle that effective statutory compliance and respect for the legislative intent of speedy recovery are mandatory in possession proceedings under the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act. The decision relied on Rule 2(1) of the Court of App