Jayawardanalage Hemantha Perera vs. The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – HCC 254/2018-2021

In the case between The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Jayawardanalage Hemantha Perera, the court addressed whether the evidence presented at trial sufficiently established the accused’s guilt for the offense of rape. The court affirmed that a conviction could be sustained on the evidence of a single credible witness in a sexual offence, even in the absence of direct corroboration. The sufficiency of witness identification, evaluation of contradictions and omissions in testimony, the weight of medical evidence, and the credibility of the accused’s dock statement were all considered. It was determined that the testimony of the victim, corroborated by medical and circumstantial evidence, was convincing and not impaired by minor incon