Tikirage Mahinda Rajapaksha vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0155/2022-2023

In the case between Tikirage Mahinda Rajapaksha (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed the sufficiency and reliability of evidence underpinning a conviction for grave sexual abuse. It was held that despite the incident’s timing posing no material prejudice, the conviction could not be sustained due to insufficient corroboration and material contradictions in witness testimonies, which raised reasonable doubt as to the accused’s guilt. This decision emphasized principles from the Code of Criminal Procedure and relevant legal precedents, highlighting the necessity for consistent and corroborated testimonial evidence in upholding criminal convictions.

P. Kumararatnam J. — The evidence and amended indictment were examined, with particu