Lloyd's Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly
SRI LANKA ADMIRALTY RULES UPHELD
The Ayesha
The Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka has delivered its judgment on important questions of law as regards the admiralty jurisdiction of the High Court and the admiralty law now prevailing in Sri Lanka. These questions of law arose after the passing of the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978, and the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, No. 40 of 1983. The issue for determination was whether there are current Admiralty Rules for the exercise of the admiralty jurisdiction conferred on the High Court, Colombo, by s. 13(1) of the Judicature Act read with s. 2(1) of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act.
The plaintiff, M.S. Bawazir & Co. of Kenya, arrested the motor vessel Ayesha for breach of contract relating to carriage of goods. The High Court issued writs on the vessel which were served on the acting master of the ship. He entered an appearance and objected to the jurisdiction of the court and to the claims of the
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