Manuwel Peirislage Nishantha Kithsiri Peiris v. The Attorney General – CA HCC/0218/17-2023

In the case between Manuwel Peirislage Nishantha Kithsiri Peiris (alias Manuwel Peirislage Jayantha Kithsiri Peiris) and the Attorney General, the court addressed the issue of whether the evidence, particularly medical testimony and facts, supported the appellant’s conviction for murder or a lesser offence under the Penal Code. It was determined that the prosecution established, beyond reasonable doubt, that the appellant carried out a preplanned attack by injecting a poisonous substance, which resulted in the death of the victim, Walpola Widanalage Anulawathi. The findings established that no adequate grounds existed for reducing the charge to culpable homicide based on legal standards under sections 293 and 294 of the Penal Code. The court reaffirmed the principle that premeditation and