Sana v. Republic of Sri Lanka – sllr 2009 volume 1 page 048

In the case between SANA (Appellant) and the Republic of Sri Lanka (Respondent), the court addressed the admissibility and requisite corroboration of a victim’s evidence in sexual abuse prosecutions, particularly focusing on whether subsequent statements by the victim or non-admitted witness statements may be used for corroborative purposes or to undermine credibility. It was held that corroborative evidence must originate from an independent source, not from a victim’s prior or subsequent statements. The earlier evidentiary approach permitting reliance on a short history and a non-admitted police statement by a witness was found to be legally erroneous. This decision emphasized principles from established case law and evidentiary rules, concluding that the trial judge’s methodology was fl