Seneviratne and Another vs Weeratunga and Another – sllr 2012 volume 2 page 013

In the case between the Plaintiffs-Respondents (beneficiaries of Deeds of Gift from Arthur Weeratunga) and the Defendants-Appellants (challengers to the deeds based on land reform law), the court addressed whether Arthur Weeratunga, as statutory lessee under the Land Reform Law, had the authority to execute Deeds of Gift for land that had already vested in the Land Reform Commission. The court held that the Deeds of Gift were void, as Arthur Weeratunga did not possess title at the time of execution, reaffirming the principle that title acquired under the Land Reform Law becomes effective only upon publication of the Statutory Determination in the Gazette. This decision relied on Sections 18, 19, and 20 of the Land Reform Law, emphasizing the non-applicability of the doctrine of “exceptio r