Jayawickrama Kankanamge Premadasa v. Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0171/2019-2022

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Jayawickrama Kankanamge Premadasa, the court addressed whether the evidence was sufficient to support convictions for two counts of murder under Section 296 of the Penal Code, and whether the trial court properly evaluated the appellant’s dock statement and the applicability of a lesser offence due to a sudden fight. The court determined that the eyewitness evidence was credible and unchallenged, the seriousness of the injuries was clear, and the trial judge had adequately addressed and discounted the appellant’s dock statement. The appellate court affirmed the conviction and sentence, reiterating the principle that credible, unchallenged eyewitness evidence, alongside a clear