IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA Sooriya Pahtirennehelage Piyalka Weerakanthi, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

Petitioner SC APPEAL NO: SC/APPEAL/179/2019 SC LA NO: SC/HCCA/LA/310/2017 HC NO: NWP/HCCA/KUR/102/2011/F DC KULIYAPITIYA NO: 605/T Vs.

1. Sembukutti Arachchige Shanthi Siriwardena, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

(Deceased)

1A. Sembukutti Arachchige Radhika Siriwardena, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

2. Sembukutti Arachchige Premaratne, Dambagahagedera, Yakwila.

3. Sembukutti Arachchige Piyathilaka, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

4. Sembukutti Arachchige Dharmasena, Ambalangoda.

(Deceased)

4A. Gange Lalitha De Silva

4B. Sembukutti Arachchige Sisira Priyankara

4C. Sembukutti Arachchige Sisira Sanoja Dilhani All of No. 5, Polwatta Municipal Houses, Ambalangoda.

5. Sembukutti Arachchige Leelawati Manike, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

6. Sembukutti Arachchige Paulu Appuhamy, Munamaldeniya, Akarawatta.

Respondents AND BETWEEN Sooriya Pahtirennehelage Piyalka Weerakanthi, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

Petitioner–Appellant Vs.

1. Sembukutti Arachchige Shanthi Siriwardena, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

(Deceased)

1A. Sembukutti Arachchige Radhika Siriwardena, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

2. Sembukutti Arachchige Premaratne, Dambagahagedera, Yakwila.

3. Sembukutti Arachchige Piyathilaka, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

4. Sembukutti Arachchige Dharmasena, Ambalangoda.

(Deceased)

4A. Gange Lalitha De Silva

4B. Sembukutti Arachchige Sisira Priyankara

4C. Sembukutti Arachchige Sisira Sanoja Dilhani All of No. 5, Polwatta Municipal Houses, Ambalangoda.

5. Sembukutti Arachchige Leelawati Manike, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

6. Sembukutti Arachchige Paulu Appuhamy, Munamaldeniya, Akarawatta.

Respondent-Respondents AND NOW BETWEEN

1. Sembukutti Arachchige Shanthi Siriwardena, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

(Deceased)

1A. Sembukutti Arachchige Radhika Siriwardena, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

2. Sembukutti Arachchige Premaratne, Dambagahagedera, Yakwila.

3. Sembukutti Arachchige Piyathilaka, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

4. Sembukutti Arachchige Dharmasena, Ambalangoda.

(Deceased)

4A. Gange Lalitha De Silva (Deceased)

4B. Sembukutti Arachchige Sisira Priyankara

4C. Sembukutti Arachchige Sisira Sanoja Dilhani All of No. 5, Polwatta Municipal Houses, Ambalangoda.

5. Sembukutti Arachchige Leelawati Manike, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

6. Sembukutti Arachchige Paulu Appuhamy, Munamaldeniya, Akarawatta.

1A, 2nd, 3rd, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5th and 6th Respondent-Respondent-Appellants Vs.

Sooriya Pahtirennehelage Piyalka Weerakanthi, Ingaradaula, Narangoda.

Petitioner–Appellant–Respondent Before: Hon. Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, P.C.

Hon. Justice A.L. Shiran Gooneratne Hon. Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena Counsel: M.C. Jayaratna, P.C., with H.A. Nishani and H.

Hettiarachchi for the 1A, 2nd, 3rd, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5th and 6th Respondent-Respondent-Appellants.

Jacob Joseph for the Petitioner-Appellant-Respondent.

Argued on : 26.10.2021 Written submissions:

by the Respondent-Respondent-Appellants on 05.10.2020.

Decided on: 28.02.2024 Samayawardhena, J.

The original petitioner instituted these proceedings in the District Court of Kuliyapitiya in terms of section 528 of the Civil Procedure Code seeking letters of administration to administer the intestate estate of the deceased on the basis that she is the widow of the deceased. She tendered the marriage certificate marked P1 with the petition. The original 2nd respondent who is the brother of the deceased (with the support of the other siblings) countersued for letters of administration on the basis that the marriage between the petitioner and the deceased is a nullity in terms of section 18 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance, No. 19 of 1907, as amended, since the petitioner married the 2nd respondent’s deceased brother without having her former marriage dissolved by a competent Court.

Section 18 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance enacts:

No marriage shall be valid where either of the parties thereto shall have contracted a prior marriage which shall not have been legally dissolved or declared void.

Sec