The Attorney General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka vs. Kurundukarage Chandana Gunawardane – CA 185/2007-2007

In the case between the Attorney General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Kurundukarage Chandana Gunawardane, the court addressed whether the conviction of the Accused-Appellant for abduction under Section 354 of the Penal Code was proper in light of inconsistencies in the prosecutrix’s evidence, sufficiency of proof regarding the date of offence, and non-consideration of the dock statement. The appellate court held that the conviction was unsafe as the evidence was inconsistent and had not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt; the selective acceptance of testimony without adequate reasoning and the failure to consider the Appellant’s dock statement rendered the trial unfair. The principle reaffirmed was that criminal convictions require the prosecution to prove the