Ven. Kiri Ibbanare Somissara Thero vs The Attorney General – CA NO. 43/12-2014

In the case between Ven. Kiri Ibbanare Somissara Thero Alias Karunarathna, Bodhirajahramaya, Udugama, Halmillawewa (Appellant) and The Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo (Respondent), the court addressed the issue of an appeal by the accused-appellant against his conviction and sentence by the High Court of Kurunegala. The court held that the application to withdraw the appeal should be allowed, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal and affirmation of the conviction and sentence as originally imposed. It was further emphasized that, upon request by counsel and with no objection from the State, the prison authorities were directed to implement the sentence from the original date of conviction. This decision reinforces the procedural principle that an appellant may s