Weerakoon v. Sirayadi – sllr 2001 volume 3 page 325

The case between Weerakoon (Appellant) and Sirayadi (Respondent) addressed the interpretation of the Rent Act with respect to whether property acquired as a gift from a grandmother qualifies as “inheritance or gift from a parent or spouse” under Section 22(7). The sequence of events included the District Court’s dismissal of the action based on a restrictive reading of the relevant statutory language, favoring the Sinhala version of the statute. Upon appeal, the court held that the English version of the Rent Act—being the text of enactment before the 1972 Constitution—prevails, especially in view of the 16th Amendment. The term “parent” was interpreted to include a grandmother, enabling the Plaintiff to maintain the action. The appeal was allowed and the matter remitted for trial, reaffir