Ramalan Mohamed Hafeel vs. Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0043/18-2024

In the case between Ramalan Mohamed Hafeel (Appellant, 1st Accused) and the Director, Criminal Investigation Department, Sri Lanka Police, and the Hon. Attorney-General’s Department (Respondents), the court addressed whether evidence—including the dock statement and observations made during a vehicle search—sufficiently established the appellant’s knowing possession of an automatic firearm and live ammunition. The holding confirmed that the conviction was proper, emphasizing the requirement for the prosecution to prove exclusive possession and knowledge beyond a reasonable doubt. The decision reaffirmed principles related to presumption of innocence and the evaluation of circumstantial evidence, relying on statutory and common-law standards. It was concluded that the prosecution’s case exc