Adhikari Appuhamilage Krishan Sampath Rupasinghe vs Attorney General – CN120/2013-2016

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Attorney General) and Adhikari Appuhamilage Krishan Sampath Rupasinghe, the court addressed the issue of criminal negligence arising from a fatal traffic accident. It was held that the conduct of the accused-appellant in operating a container truck resulted in criminal negligence warranting conviction under Sections 298 and 328 of the Penal Code. The court reaffirmed the principle that criminal negligence requires conduct sufficiently gross to rise above mere civil liability and constitutes a crime. Reliance was placed on the evaluation of both eyewitness and expert evidence in determining the presence of such negligence. The impact of this decision underscores that thorough analysis of evidence, including expert testimony