Meregngnage Daminda Lakmal Fernando and Suddathvarige Sandaruwan Fernando vs. The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – CA HCC/0069-0070/2019-2022

In the case between the Hon. Attorney General, representing the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Party A), and Meregngnage Daminda Lakmal Fernando and Suddathvarige Sandaruwan Fernando (Party B), the court addressed whether the convictions and sentences of both accused-appellants on two counts of robbery were supported by the evidence and satisfied the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. It was held that the conviction and sentence against the 1st appellant were warranted while the conviction of the 2nd appellant was not supported by sufficient evidence. The principle reaffirmed was that each accused’s participation and identification must be established beyond a reasonable doubt, supported by both direct and circumstantial evidence, including the presumption regarding po