Liyana Arachchige Manoj Bimsara Dissanayake vs Hon. Attorney General – CA TR 09/2017-2017

In the case between Liyana Arachchige Manoj Bimsara Dissanayake (Accused-Petitioner) and the Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the Supreme Court considered an application to transfer a criminal case from Colombo High Court No. 5 to another High Court under Section 46(1)(a) of the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978. The principal issues addressed included whether credible allegations of judicial bias or denial of a fair trial were substantiated by the Petitioner, and the standard required for the grant of a transfer. It was held that unfounded allegations and dissatisfaction with trial proceedings, absent strong supporting evidence, do not warrant transfer. The findings established no evidence of bias or unfair conduct by the trial judge, and that the Petitioner misrepresented facts