Bilingahawattegedera Karunaratne alias Raja vs The Hon. Attorney General – 104/12-2017

In the case between Bilingahawattegedera Karunaratne alias Raja and Bilingahawattegedera Ariyaratne (Accused-Appellants) and the Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed whether the convictions and death sentences imposed by the High Court of Kandy for murder were correct and whether the plea of grave and sudden provocation was available to the appellants. The findings established that the convictions and sentences were warranted, based on consistent eyewitness, police, and medical evidence. The principle reaffirmed was that the burden to establish exceptions such as grave and sudden provocation under section 105 of the Evidence Ordinance lies with the accused. The judgment relied on established precedent (The King v Seedar de Silva), underscoring that absence of