Singappulige Gunadasa alias Kaluwa vs Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka – CA 183/2012 -2020

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Singappulige Gunadasa alias Kaluwa, the court addressed the issue of whether the conviction and imposition of the death sentence against the appellant for the murder of Deegana Gamage Somapala alias Danegala Lokka should be sustained, considering conflicting eyewitness accounts and evaluation of credibility by the trial judge. It was determined that the trial judge’s reliance on the son’s testimony, to the exclusion of the wife’s account due to inconsistencies, was justified. The appellate review reaffirmed that the assessment of eyewitness credibility is primarily the function of the trial judge, and no grounds were found to disturb these findings. The conviction and sentence were upheld, reinforcing the principle that