Attorney General vs. Wijesuriya Arachchilage Damith Nayanapriya Wijesuriya – CA-HCC-0055/2013-2022

In the case between the Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent) and Wijesuriya Arachchilage Damith Nayanapriya Wijesuriya (Accused-Appellant), the court considered the validity of a conviction and sentence for grave sexual abuse under Section 365B(2)(b) of the Penal Code. The main issues included whether the indictment was properly communicated to the accused-appellant and whether the prosecution’s evidence satisfied the requirement of proof beyond reasonable doubt. Following allegations of procedural irregularities and unreliable prosecution testimony, it was held that the conviction could not stand due to substantial inconsistencies and lack of corroboration in the evidence. The appellate court reaffirmed the principle that criminal guilt must be established beyond reasonable doubt, re