Mallawathanthrige Ajith Paulet Perera vs. The Attorney General – CA 24/2010-2013

In the case between the Attorney General and Mallawathanthrige Ajith Paulet Perera, the court addressed the issue of the appellant’s conviction for the rape of S.G. Swarna Malkanthi. It was determined that the conviction and sentence, including imprisonment, fine, and compensation, were challenged based on the credibility and consistency of the prosecution’s evidence. The judgment held that the prosecution’s case contained significant inconsistencies and lacked corroboration, rendering the conviction unsafe. The principle reaffirmed is that a conviction must rest on credible and consistent evidence, particularly in cases relying on a single witness without corroboration. Relevant legal standards regarding the assessment of witness credibility and the necessity of reliable evidence in crimi