WICKREMENAYAKE et al. v. PERERA et al.

Present: The Hon.   Sir Joseph T.  Hutchinson,   Chief Justice,

and Mr. Justice Wood Renton.

 

WICKREMENAYAKE et al. v. PERERA et al.

 

D. C., Kandy, 2,191.

 

    Adulterine bastards-Children born ex prohibito concubitu or damnato coitu-Right to inherit mother's property-Roman-Dutch Law- Non-access-Evidence    of    husband.

 

A husband is a competent witness to prove non-access.

 

Under the Roman-Dutch Law adulterine bastards, inasmuch as they were born ex prohibito concubitu, were debarred from inheriting   the   property   of   their   mother.

 

Adultery being no longer an offence, such persons cannot  now  be said to be born    ex    prohibito    concubitu or ex  damnato    coitu,  and are  therefore    not    prevented    from    taking     by    inheritance    from    their  mother.

 

APPEAL   from   a   judgment   of   the   District   Judge   of   Kandy, (F.  R. Dias, Esq.).    The facts are fully set out in the following  judgment  of  Middleton   J.   on  a  previous   appeal   (October   11, 1907): -

" The question in this case is whether the adulterine offspring of a deceased woman are e

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