Harankahawatte Vidanelage Ranjith Kumara vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA 179/2009-2015

In the case between Harankahawatte Vidanelage Ranjith Kumara (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo 12 (Respondent), the court addressed the validity of the conviction and sentence for murder and robbery imposed by the High Court of Panadura. The court held that the prosecution’s reliance on circumstantial evidence, combined with the presumption of recent possession of stolen property, was sufficient to uphold both the murder and robbery charges. The principle reaffirmed is that, where circumstantial evidence links the accused to both murder and robbery in a single transaction, the presumption from possession applies to both offenses if supported by adequate evidence. This decision was guided by local and Indian legal authorities interpret