Anura vs Hon. Attorney General – CA PHC APN 14/2017-2017

In the case between Sube Appu Kankanamlage Anura Dharmapriya Weerawardhana (2nd Accused-Petitioner) and the Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed whether an accused who absconded after initial presence at trial, and subsequently reappeared, has the right to recall and cross-examine witnesses who had not been cross-examined during absence. It was held that the accused-petitioner must be afforded the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses previously not subject to cross-examination due to absence, thereby setting aside the earlier High Court order that had restricted this right. The principle reaffirmed is the right to a fair trial and cross-examination as a fundamental aspect of criminal justice procedure. This decision relied on the appropriate procedural safeguards for cross-examinat