Phalage Sudath Lakmal Abegunawardana v. Hon. Attorney General – CA 249/2013-2017

In the case between Phalage Sudath Lakmal Abegunawardana (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the appellant deceived and dishonestly induced the complainant to transfer funds under the pretext of investing in a fishing business, thereby committing cheating under Section 403 of the Penal Code. The court held that the prosecution had established, beyond reasonable doubt, that the funds were obtained through misrepresentation for personal gain and not for building a house or as a donation, thus constituting the offence charged. It was further determined that the charges, although of the same transaction, were properly framed as two counts since the law permits prosecution for multiple offences of like kind committed within on