ALGAMA

VS.

LANKANAYAKE

SUPREME COURT
SURASENA, J.
AMARASEKARA, J.
SAMAYAWARDHENA, J.
SC/APPEAL/57/2019
SC/HCCA/LA/237 /2018
NWP/HCCA/KURU/80/2015/F
DC WARIYAPOLA 09/SPL
APRIL 27, 2021

Partition Law, No. 21 of 1977, section 48(1)-Trusts Ordinance, No. 9 of 1917, section 83-Finality of partition decree-Constructive trust

A constructive trust is not wiped out upon the entering of a partition decree notwithstanding that section 48(1) of the Partition Law invests a partition decree with finality free from all encumbrances whatsoever.

The position is the same even if the beneficiary of a constructive trust who was a party to the partition action failed to put the constructive trust in issue in the partition action.

Cases referred to :

1. Babunona v. Cornelis Appu (1910) 14 NLR 45

2. Galgamuwa v. Weerasekera (1919) 21 NLR 108

3. Sultan v. Sivanadian (1911) 15 NLR 135

4. Weeraman v. De Silva (1920) 22 NLR 107

5. Marikar v. Marikar (1920) 22 NLR 137

6. Punchimahatmaya v. Medagama (1949) 51 NLR 276

7. Herat v. Amunugama (1955) 56 NLR 529

APPEAL from the Judgment of the High Court of Civil Appeal of Kurunagala.

W. Dayaratne, P.C., with Ranjika Jayawardene f