Jayatunga v. The Attorney General and Another – sllr 2002 volume 1 page 197

In the case between Jayatunga (Plaintiff) and the Attorney-General and Another (Defendant), the court addressed the adequacy of appellate review concerning a conviction under sections 316 and 317 of the Penal Code in a joint criminal case. It was determined that the High Court’s failure to properly evaluate the entirety of defence evidence, particularly relating to the accused-appellant’s alibi and the inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case, constituted a significant procedural lapse. The conviction and sentence were set aside with an order for a retrial on count 1, reaffirming the principle that a fair trial requires judicial evaluation of all relevant defence evidence. This decision reinforces the requirement that convictions in joint criminal actions must be based on a clear establis