IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA

1. Weliwattage Upali Indrasiri Perera, 2. Weliwattage Yasawardane Nandasiri Perera

3. Weliwattage Yasawardane Chandrasiri Perera All of No. 327, High Level Road, SC Appeal No. 111/2013 Pannipitiya S.C. HCCA LA Application No.

PLAINTIFFS

282/2012 Vs.

WP/HCCA/AVI/317/2008(F)

1. Colomage Celestina Jayawardane, 2. Satharasinghage Amaratunga, D.C. Homagama Case No.

117/L

3. Satharasinghage Don Abeywardane, 4. Satharasinghage Dharmasena, 5. Satharasinghage Don Gunawardane All of Maththegoda, Polgasowita.

DEFENDANTS AND BETWEEN

4. Satharasinhage Dharmasena, Maththegoda, Polgasowita.

4^th DEFENDANT-APPELLANT Vs.

1. Weliwattage Seeman Perera (Deceased)

1A. Weliwattage Upali Indrasiri Perera, 2. Weliwattage Yasawardane Nandasiri Perera

3. Weliwattage Yasawardane Chandrasiri Perera All of No. 327, High Level Road, Pannipitiya PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENTS

1. Colomage Celestina Jayawardane, (Deceased)

1අ Satharasinghage Amaratunga, 1ආ Satharasinghage Don Abeywardane, 1ඇ Satharasinghage Dharmasena, 2. Satharasinghage Amaratunga, (Deceased)

2අ Jayasinghe Arachchige Kamalawathi, 2ආ Satharasinghage Don Nalani, 2ඇ Satharasinghage Don Sarathchandra, 3. Satharasinghage Don Abeywardane, 5. Satharasinghage Don Gunawardane, (Deceased)

5අ Satharasinghage Amaratunga, 5ආ Satharasinghage Don Abeywardane, 5ඇ Satharasinghage Dharmasena All of Maththegoda, Polgasowita.

DEFENDANT-RESPONDENTS AND NOW BETWEEN Satharasinhage Dharmasena, Maththegoda, Polgasowita.

(Deceased)

4th DEFENDANT-APPELLANT-

PETITIONER Kodikkarage Ewline Sumanawathie of Maththegoda, Polgasowita SUBSTITUTED 4th DEFENDANT-

APPELLANT-APPELLANT Vs.

1. Weliwattage Seeman Perera (Deceased)

1A. Weliwattage Upali Indrasiri Perera, 2. Weliwattage Yasawardane Nandasiri Perera

3. Weliwattage Yasawardane Chandrasiri Perera All of No. 327, High Level Road, Pannipitiya PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT-RESPONDENTS

1. Colomage Celestina Jayawardane, (Deceased)

1අ Satharasinghage Amaratunga, 1ආ Satharasinghage Don Abeywardane, 1ඇ Satharasinghage Dharmasena, 2. Satharasinghage Amaratunga, (Deceased)

2අ Jayasinghe Arachchige Kamalawathi, 2ආ Satharasinghage Don Nalani, 2ඇ Satharasinghage Don Sarathchandra, 3. Satharasinghage Don Abeywardane, 5. Satharasinghage Don Gunawardane, (Deceased)

5අ Satharasinghage Amaratunga, 5ආ Satharasinghage Don Abeywardane, 5ඇ Satharasinghage Dharmasena All of Maththegoda, Polgasowita.

DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT-

RESPONDENTS BEFORE: S. THURAIRAJA, PC, J.

A.L. SHIRAN GOONERATNE, J. AND ACHALA WENGAPPULI, J COUNSEL: Harsha Soza, PC with R. Perera instructed by Srihan Samaranayake for the Petitioners Ranjan Suwandaratne, PC with Anil Rajakaruna for the Plaintiff-

Respondent-Respondent WRITTEN 04^th Defendant-Appellant-Petitioner-Appellant on 23^rd October 2013 SUBMISSIONS: Plaintiff-Respondent-Respondent on 14th November 2013 ARGUED ON: 25th March 2024 DECIDED ON: 20th May 2025 THURAIRAJA, PC, J.

1. Plaintiff-Respondent-Respondents (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the ‘Plaintiffs’ or ‘Plaintiff-Respondents’) instituted this action before the District Court of Homagama seeking, inter alia, i. Interim injunction and enjoining order to restrain the Defendant from tapping the rubber trees on the land described in 2^nd Schedule to the Plaint.

ii. Declaration that the Plaintiff-Respondent-Respondents are entitled to the property described in the 2^nd Schedule to the Plaint.

2. After trial, on 27^th March 2005, the District Court of Homagama had entered judgment in favour of the Plaintiffs. Aggrieved by the said judgment dated 27^th March 2005, the 4^th Defendant to the said action preferred an appeal against the same to the Provincial High Court of the Western Province holden in Avissawella, exercising civil appellate jurisdiction (hereinafter the ‘High Court of Civil Appeal’). By judgment dated 11^th June 2012, the High Court of Civil Appeal had dismissed the appeal, affirming the District Court decision subject to variations—specifically the answers to issues Nos. 19 and 20 as t