Nanayakkara Kappetiduwage Thilakananda Nanyakkara vs The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.. – CA 292/2007-2013

In the case between Nanayakkara Kappetiduwage Thilakananda Nanayakkara (Accused-Appellant) and The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the accused-appellant was rightly convicted under Section 4(2) of the Offensive Weapons Act No 18 of 1966 for injuries caused by an explosive device. It was held that the conviction and sentence were proper, as the trial court had appropriately evaluated the credibility of evidence and had not improperly shifted the burden of proof onto the accused. The decision reaffirmed the principle that the prosecution bears the primary burden of proof and that judicial evaluation of the defence does not equate to a reversal of this burden. Reference was made to standards governing evidentiary as