The State vs Nissanka Arachilage Ranganath Karunaratne – CA/HCC/0153/15-2022

In the case between Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent) and Nissanka Arachilage Ranganath Karunaratne (Accused-Appellant), the court addressed the validity of the conviction and death sentence imposed for the murder of Eliyadura Tudor Igneshas de Soyza. The primary issues concerned whether the proceedings, including the conduct of trial-in-absentia under Section 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code, reading of the indictment, choice of trial by jury, and procedures for witness examination and cross-examination, met the standards of a fair trial, and whether identification evidence was reliable and sufficient. It was held that the evidence, particularly identification testimony, was weak and inconsistently evaluated, and significant procedural irregularities undermined the accused’