Dharmaratna v. People’s Bank – sllr 2003 volume 3 page 307

Brief
In the case between DHARMARATNA (petitioner/plaintiff) and PEOPLE’S BANK (respondent/defendant), the court addressed whether an overdraft qualifies as a “debt” under the Debt Recovery (Special Provisions) Law, the validity of a decree nisi made absolute, and the interpretation of statutory provisions governing banking transactions and debt recovery. Following orders by the District Court to make absolute a decree nisi and refusal to allow cross-examination during execution proceedings, the petitioner challenged these on jurisdictional and definitional grounds. It was held that, within the statutory context, an overdraft constitutes a debt, and thus the decree and execution proceedings were validly maintained. The revision application was accordingly dismissed with costs, reaffirming