Rohitha Jayasekera & Others vs The Officer-in-Charge, Police Station Uva Paranagama – CA(PHC)APN 0168/2013-2024

In the case between Rohitha Jayasekera, Wijetunga Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Prabath Bandara, and Wijetunga Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Ranjith Delumgahawaththa (as Accused-Appellants/Petitioners) and The Officer-in-Charge, Police Station Uva Paranagama (as Complainant/Respondent, involving the Attorney General’s Department), the court addressed the issue of whether an appellate court may enhance an already imposed sentence without providing the appellant an opportunity to show cause, potentially violating principles of natural justice. It was held that the enhancement of a sentence without giving the accused-appellant an opportunity to show cause contravened the requirements of natural justice. The principle reaffirmed is that revised or increased sentences by appellate or revision courts must be