Yakdehi Guruge Suranimala v. Hon. Attorney General – CA NO.31/2016-2016

In the case between Yakdehi Guruge Suranimala (Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondent), the court addressed the procedural issue regarding withdrawal of appeal and the commencement date of a sentence following conviction. It was determined that the accused-appellant’s request to withdraw the appeal and to implement the sentence from the date of conviction was permissible under Section 359 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The court further held that the previously imposed fine should remain undisturbed and formally dismissed the appeal, thereby endorsing the sentencing principle that a sentence may be directed to run from the date of original conviction upon proper application. This outcome reinforces the court’s discretion to make such orders in the interest of justice in acco