Mohamed Rasheed Hasan vs Hon Attorney General – CA NO. 141/2015-2021

In the case between The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon Attorney General) and Mohamed Rasheed Hasan, the court addressed whether the conviction and death sentence of the Accused-Appellant for the alleged murder of Nadarasa Sudharan under Section 296 of the Penal Code was proper. The court held that the trial court had erred by treating the accused’s sworn evidence as unsworn, which constituted a serious judicial error, and that the right of private defense was established by the accused on a balance of probabilities. The conviction was quashed and the accused was acquitted, reaffirming the principle that an accused is entitled to the benefit of the doubt where private defense is supported by credible evidence. The decision relied on established statutory