Widanalage Jayantha Marasinghe / Nilan v. Hon. Attorney-General – CA NO. 194/04-2004

In the case between Widanalage Jayantha Marasinghe / Nilan (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney-General (Respondent), the court addressed the validity of the conviction and death sentence imposed after the Accused-Appellant was tried in absentia by the High Court of Kegalle. The issues included the legitimacy of the Section 241 inquiry under the Criminal Procedure Code, particularly concerning the accused’s absence during the trial and alleged procedural irregularities in notifying the accused. It was held that the original conviction and sentence were valid, as the explanations for absence were unsatisfactory and alleged procedural errors regarding notification were insufficient to warrant appellate interference. This holding reaffirmed the principle that convictions in absentia, whe