Rasanayagam v. Suraweera and Others – sllr 2003 volume 3 page 015

In the case between Rasanayagam (Plaintiff) and Suraweera and others, including Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (Defendants), the Court addressed whether the sixth respondent (Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.) constituted a “Public Corporation” under the Ceiling on Housing Property Law No. 1 of 1973 and the Associated Newspapers (Special Provisions) Law No. 28 of 1973, or remained a company under the Companies Ordinance. The Court determined that the sixth respondent had not acquired the status of a public corporation and instead continued to exist as a company. The findings established that the statutory definitions and the legislative intent did not support the respondent’s categorization as a public corporation. This position reaffirmed the importance of strict statutory interp