Jahaluge Tilak Shantha Dissanayake Vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA HIGH COURT/194/2014-2017

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Jahaluge Tilak Shantha Dissanayake, the court considered whether the conviction for rape under section 365 of the Penal Code should be upheld. The proceedings examined the credibility of the prosecutrix’s testimony, the sufficiency of corroborative evidence, and the adequacy of the police investigation, including the absence of certain forensic evidence and police procedures. It was held that the conviction and sentence should stand, reaffirming the principle that the credible testimony of the victim in sexual offence cases may be sufficient for a conviction, and lapses in police investigation do not necessarily benefit the accused in the absence of material prejudice. Referenc