Jayakodyge Punchirathna Banda Vs. Hon. Attorney General – CA PHC APN 119/2016-2016

In the case between Hon. Attorney General (Complainant/Respondent) and Jayakodyge Punchirathna Banda (Accused/Petitioner), the court addressed whether the accused’s application for revision to set aside a High Court conviction and obtain a trial de novo should be entertained. The case was primarily concerned with the observance of procedural requirements under section 241 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in trials held in absentia and the necessity of proving “exceptional circumstances” to justify invoking revisionary jurisdiction when an ordinary right of appeal is available. The findings established that the petitioner, after being convicted for statutory rape in absentia and failing to appeal, did not demonstrate exceptional circumstances or procedural irregularities warranting revisio