Hewageganage Nihal Shantha vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA 145/2014-2017

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Hewageganage Nihal Shantha, the court addressed the appeal against the conviction for kidnapping and grave sexual abuse of a minor. It was determined that the conviction and sentence could not be sustained due to insufficient corroboration and notable inconsistencies in the testimonies presented. The findings established the necessity of reliable corroborative evidence in sexual offense cases, reaffirming the principle that convictions for such offenses require evidence beyond uncorroborated testimony of the victim. Reliance was placed on established legal precedents concerning corroboration. The impact of this decision is a reiteration that due process and evidentiary standards must be observed rigorously in criminal c