Amarasekere v. Attorney General – sllr 1998 volume 3 page 314

The case between Amarasekere (accused-appellant) and the Attorney-General addressed the issue of whether, in a trial without a jury, a trial judge’s verdict must be recorded with sufficient reasons pursuant to sections 203 and 283 of the Criminal Procedure Code. It was held that the trial judge satisfied the statutory requirements by adequately recording verdict and reasons, including the proper evaluation of witness credibility, notably with regard to the testimony of a 93-year-old eyewitness and corroborative evidence. The principle reaffirmed was that, in non-jury trials, a trial judge’s reasons for conviction must be apparent and based on the evidence. Reliance was placed on relevant statutory provisions and judicial precedent, clarifying that the process followed was legally sufficien