Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.7/5)
Genre: Law / Sri Lankan Law / Property Law / Legal Textbook / Non-fiction

Book Review:

Professor G.L. Peiris's ''The Law of Property in Sri Lanka: Volume Three - Servitudes and Partition'' is a landmark contribution to Sri Lankan legal scholarship. As the latest installment in his comprehensive series on property law, this volume maintains the same high standard of erudition, clarity, and practical utility that has made his work indispensable to the legal community.

The book is divided into two main sections, each dealing with a complex and frequently litigated area of property law. The first section on servitudes (easements) provides a thorough examination of the law governing rights over another's land. Peiris masterfully traces the historical origins of these concepts in Roman-Dutch law, explains their incorporation into Sri Lankan jurisprudence, and analyzes the extensive case law that has shaped their modern application. He covers the creation, transfer, and extinction of servitudes, as well as the remedies available for their infringement.

The second section on partition is equally comprehensive. The Partition Law is one of the most important and frequently used statutes in Sri Lankan legal practice, and Peiris provides an indispensable guide to its complexities. He explains the entire process, from the filing of a partition action to the final decree, with detailed attention to the rights of co-owners, the appointment of commissioners, the valuation of property, and the distribution of shares. He also addresses the numerous procedural and substantive issues that can arise, drawing on a wealth of case law to illustrate his points.

What sets this book apart is Peiris's ability to combine rigorous legal analysis with clear, accessible prose. He explains complex concepts in a way that is understandable to students, while providing the depth and detail that practitioners require. His extensive citations to case law and statutory provisions make this an invaluable research tool.

For anyone practicing or studying property law in Sri Lanka, this book is an essential addition to their library. It is a work of lasting value that will be consulted for generations to come. Highly recommended.