Ratnasinghe Wattage Piyasena v. Hon. Attorney General – CA CASE NO:-250/2012-2015

In the case between Ratnasinghe Wattage Piyasena (1st Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed whether the conviction and sentence for murder under section 296 of the Penal Code (read with section 32) could be sustained based on evidence of common intention. The holding established that the evidence did not support a finding of common intention involving the 1st accused-appellant, as mere presence with a weapon and absence of physical participation or prior arrangement were insufficient for liability. This determination reaffirmed the principle that criminal liability under common intention requires more than physical presence; active or participatory engagement must be demonstrated. Reliance was placed on relevant statutes and precedents, emphasizing that with