Amadoru Kuppathige Suranga Lakmal vs. Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/197/2017-2024

In the case between the Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General Department, Colombo 12 (Complainant) and Amadoru Kuppathige Suranga Lakmal (Accused-Appellant), the court addressed whether the trial judge had provided sufficient reasoning in evaluating the evidence and resolving contradictions in witness testimonies, as well as whether the absence of proper analysis of both prosecution and defence evidence resulted in an unfair trial. It was held that the trial judge’s deficiencies in explaining conclusions and addressing key evidentiary contradictions constituted a denial of a fair trial, leading to the setting aside of the conviction and the acquittal of the appellant. This decision reaffirmed the principle that a reasoned judgment is essential for a fair trial, as prescribed by the Const