Devagiri Mudiyanselage Soma Manel Amarasuriya v. High Court of Ratnapura – CA 110/2009-2011

In the case between Devagiri Mudiyanselage Soma Manel Amarasuriya (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (State), the court addressed whether the High Court Judge had erred in evaluating and rejecting the accused-appellant’s dock statement, particularly its admissibility and probative value under Sri Lankan law. It was held that the approach taken by the High Court Judge, which relied upon outdated English legal standards and dismissed the dock statement for lack of cross-examination, was legally erroneous and inconsistent with Section 100 of the Evidence Ordinance and established appellate precedents in Sri Lanka. The court set aside the conviction and sentence, ordered a retrial before a different High Court Judge, and emphasized the necessity for proper evaluation of dock sta