Don Ranasuriya Arachchige Rohana Kithsiri vs The Attorney General – CA 214/2008-2014

In the case between Don Ranasuriya Arachchige Rohana Kithsiri (accused-appellant) and the Attorney General (respondent), the court addressed whether the accused-appellant was properly convicted for possession and trafficking of 43.1 grams of heroin. It was held that the conviction was unsafe due to inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case and flawed reasoning by the trial judge in rejecting the accused-appellant’s evidence. The principle reaffirmed was that defense evidence must be carefully assessed and not instinctively disbelieved, particularly where the defense testimony is honest and consistent. This decision relied on established case law concerning the evaluation of defense evidence, with the court emphasizing that unresolved doubts must benefit the accused. The result was the acqu