Ulapanelage Ginadasa vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA – 143/2014-2017

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Ulapanelage Ginadasa, the court addressed the validity of a murder conviction and death sentence imposed by the High Court of Chilaw under Section 296 of the Penal Code. It was determined that the High Court judgment failed to fulfill the requirements of Section 283 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, as it did not provide adequate reasons or findings and relied solely on circumstantial evidence without establishing an inescapable inference of guilt. The holding established that a mere narrative of evidence is insufficient; judgments must articulate issues for determination and the rationale behind decisions. The conviction and sentence were set aside, and acquittal was orde