Palliyapattuge Malika v. Hon. Attorney-General – CA NO.285/2009-2016

In the case between Palliyapattuge Malika (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney-General (Respondent), the court addressed the legal issue of whether the trial judge erred by referring to notes from the police information book when delivering judgment on a conviction for the possession of heroin. The court determined that the prohibition against using police notes as substantive evidence was not violated. The decision reaffirmed the principle that the materials from police information books may not be treated as substantive evidence in criminal proceedings. Reference was made to established precedents including Sheela Sinharage, Banda and Others, and Keerthibanda. It was emphasized that credibility assessments and resolution of testimonial inconsistencies at trial, when lawfully perform