Dayaratne v. The Republic of Sri Lanka – sllr 1990 volume 2 page 226

In Dayaratne (accused-appellant) v. The Republic of Sri Lanka, the court addressed the issue of whether a conviction for murder should be sustained when the accused raised a plea of voluntary intoxication under Section 79 of the Penal Code, arguing incapacity to form the necessary intention for murder. It was held that the plea of voluntary intoxication does not suffice to negate the essential element of intention in cases of murder unless it is clearly established that the accused was incapable of forming such intention. The principle reaffirmed that evidence of intoxication must reach a high threshold to displace criminal responsibility where intention is a core requirement of the offence. This decision relied on the statutory text of Section 79, judicial interpretation from local and co