Weerasinghe Kankanamge Weerasinghe Vs. P.G. Ratnasiri and others – SC Appeal 62/2014-2025

This case involves an Aquilian action for damages stemming from an acid attack. The Plaintiff-Respondent-Appellant (Appellant) sought Rs. 2,000,000 for injuries, while the Defendants-Appellants-Respondents (Respondents) admitted the attack but claimed private defense, also filing a claim-in-reconvention for Rs. 1,000,000. The District Court initially ruled in favor of the Appellant, finding the Respondents exceeded their right of private defense. The Civil Appellate High Court reversed this, dismissing the Appellant’s action, implicitly accepting the private defense claim. The Supreme Court, led by Janak De Silva, J., clarified the scope of private defense in Aquilian actions, distinguishing it from the Penal Code. After a detailed re-evaluation of evidence, including inconsistencies in th