Hettiyakande Gedara Sumathipala vs Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC 253/2019-2021

In the case between the Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo 12, and Hettiyakande Gedara Sumathipala, the court addressed whether the conviction for murder under section 296 of the Penal Code—arising from the death of a 45-day-old infant—was sound, considering issues around the reliability of evidence, witness credibility, analysis of expert medical opinion, and application of circumstantial evidence principles. The conviction and sentence were affirmed, reiterating that minor inconsistencies in witness testimony do not necessarily undermine a prosecution, that a trial judge may selectively accept credible elements of evidence, and that a conviction may be sustained when all circumstances point conclusively to guilt. Reliance was placed on relevant legal authoritie