Kehelmala Ralalage Asanka Premakumara, Kehelmala Ralalage Gayan Wickremasinghe, Kehelmala Ralalage Sumith Priyadharshana Alias Bandara vs Hon. Attorney General – CA 10/2013-2014

In the case between Kehelmala Ralalage Asanka Premakumara, Kehelmala Ralalage Gayan Wickremasinghe, Kehelmala Ralalage Sumith Priyadharshana (Alias Bandara) and the Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed the issue of whether the accused-appellants were guilty of murder or a lesser offence concerning the death of Senarath Arachchilage Nonahamy. It was held that the conviction for culpable homicide not amounting to murder was not sustainable on the evidence, and the conviction was substituted with one for voluntarily causing hurt. The principle reaffirmed is that, for a murder conviction, proof of deliberate intent or knowledge that the act was likely to cause death is required; absent such proof and with evidence showing only minor injuries contributing to death alongside a pre-existing