Gunawardena v. The Queen – sllr 1980 volume 2 page 025

In GUNAWARDENA v. THE ATTORNEY‐GENERAL, the court examined whether the failure of the trial judge to consider evidence of the appellant’s good character constituted misdirection, and whether solicitation and acceptance of gratification under the Bribery Act were established. The conviction was upheld on the basis that the evidence, including corroborated testimony from independent witnesses, proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt, rendering character evidence immaterial once guilt is established. This ruling emphasized that a clear and reliable evidentiary foundation for conviction may override the absence of explicit consideration of good character, pursuant to the standards set by the Bribery Act.

Tambiah J. — The case facts and the sequence of events regarding the alleged solicitation a