The State vs. Weragoda Vidana Ralalage Supun Lakmal – CA HCC/130/2019-2021

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Weragoda Vidana Ralalage Supun Lakmal, the court addressed the propriety of the appellant’s conviction for rape under Section 364(1) of the Penal Code. It was held that the conviction and sentence could not be sustained due to unresolved doubts regarding the lack of consent, arising from unconvincing explanations for delay in complaint, contradictions in the testimony of the prosecutrix, absence of corroborative witnesses, and inconclusive medical evidence. The principle was reaffirmed that in criminal trials, guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt, especially where credibility of the prosecutrix and absence of consent are central. This decision relied on established