Dasanayaka Mudiyanselage Amal Dhammika vs Hon. Attorney General – HCC/287/18-2023

In the case between the Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, and Dassanayaka Mudiyanselage Amal Dhammika (the 1st Accused), the court addressed the issue of whether the conviction for murder, based predominantly on eyewitness testimony, was justified in light of doubts relating to the credibility and reliability of that evidence. It was determined that the trial court misdirected itself by failing to adequately scrutinize inconsistencies in identification by key witnesses and did not apply the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The holding set aside the conviction and death sentence, reaffirming the principle that a conviction cannot stand where reasonable doubt exists regarding the identity of the Accused, especially when corroborative evidence is lacking and eyew