Lesthuruge Janet Rohana Silva vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0412/2019-2024

In the case between Lesthuruge Janet Rohana Silva (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed whether the prosecution’s circumstantial evidence was sufficient to establish the appellant’s guilt for murder beyond reasonable doubt. It was held that the evidence—including the testimony of multiple witnesses and the recovery of the murder weapon—met the threshold for a strong prima facie case, thereby requiring the accused to provide an adequate explanation. The principle reaffirmed was that, in the presence of compelling circumstantial evidence, the burden shifts to the accused to offer a credible account. This decision relied on established legal principles governing circumstantial evidence and the judicial standard for assessing explanations by the accused, emphas