Balawickrama Kannkanamge Chelan Janaka Kumara and others Vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA CASE NO: 321-322/18-2021

In the case between The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Balawickrama Kannkanamge Chelan Janaka Kumara and Panavannage Nilusha Fernando, the issue addressed was whether both accused could be convicted of murder based on the analysis of evidence, contradictions in testimony, and the presence of common murderous intention. It was held that the prosecution failed to establish the existence of common intention or a premeditated plan to murder, and significant inconsistencies were present in the evidence. The court found that the incident was compatible with an accidental shooting, warranting the acquittal of the 2nd accused and reducing the conviction of the 1st accused to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The decision emphasize