Isurumunige Arunashantha vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0153-22-2023

In the case between Isurumunige Arunashantha (Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General (Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether a conviction for grave sexual abuse was justified in circumstances where the victim recanted her original statement. It was held that the trial court erred by failing to treat the recanted testimony of the victim adversely, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. The principle reaffirmed that convictions should not be based solely on evidence that is later recanted unless properly scrutinized, emphasizing fair trial standards and the need for reliable, credible evidence to uphold convictions. This decision was grounded in established evidentiary standards and reinforced the requirement that trial courts must critically assess the credibility of key wi