Watapathane Gedara Punchi Banda vs Hon. Attorney General – CA 237/2017-2024

Brief
In Watapathane Gedara Punchi Banda v. The High Court of Polonnaruwa and the Attorney General, the issue concerned whether the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt amid testimonial contradictions, and the appropriateness of the trial judge’s appraisal of defense evidence. The court determined that material inconsistencies existed in the testimonies of the victim and other key witnesses, undermining the prosecution’s case. It was further found that the trial judge’s evaluation process did not properly safeguard the presumption of innocence by assessing defense evidence only after finding the prosecution’s case proved. The conviction was therefore set aside and the accused-appellant acquitted, reaffirming the principle that criminal guilt requires proof beyond reas