Lekamlage Karunaratne vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA 64/2016-2021

In the case between Lekamlage Karunaratne (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed whether the conviction and death sentence for the murder of Jayasuriya Arachchilage Dayawathie were justified. The main issues examined included the trial judge’s assessment of the credibility of lay and related witnesses, the appraisal of identification evidence, and the sufficiency of consideration given to the Appellant’s alibi. The court held that the conviction was properly supported by consistent and credible witness testimony corroborated by medical evidence, and that minor discrepancies did not undermine the prosecution’s case. The principle reaffirmed was that related witnesses’ evidence, if credible, should not be discounted due to their relati