Balendran Prasad Sadeeskaran vs. The Attorney General – CA HCC/0296/14-2022

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Attorney General) and Balendran Prasad Sadeeskaran, the court addressed the lawfulness of a criminal trial conducted in absentia, the admissibility of dying declarations, and the sufficiency of evidence to establish murderous intention under Section 294 of the Penal Code. It was held that the trial held after the appellant was declared absconding conformed to procedural requirements, and that no material irregularity or failure of justice was occasioned by evidentiary or procedural aspects. The principle reaffirmed is that substantial justice is not impaired by technical defects in the admission of dying declarations if the conviction is otherwise supported by cogent eyewitness and medical evidence. The decision relied on