Ranjith Wanigaratne v Kaggoda Arachchi – sllr 2007 volume 1 page 013

In the case between Ranjith Wanigaratne (petitioner-appellant) and Kaggoda Arachchi (respondents, including the common law wife and legitimate child of the deceased), the court addressed the issue of whether the impugned Last Will (No. 683) was genuine or a forgery. It was held that the suspicious circumstances surrounding the Will, including unexplained delays and irregularities in its handling and execution, were not overcome by the petitioner. The court reaffirmed the principle that the propounder of a will must dispel all suspicion where fraud or forgery is alleged, with reliance placed on expert evidence, corroborative direct testimony, and established legal precedent. This decision underscored the importance of scrutinizing testamentary documents under suspicion and clarified the evi