Dilwella Vidana Kankanamlage Chamila Priyanga vs Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0081/2021-2025

In the High Court of Hambantota, case HCC-0081-21 involved the defendant, Dilwella Vidana Kankanamlage Chamila Priyanga, charged with unauthorized possession of an automatic firearm under Section 22(3) of the Firearms Ordinance and unauthorized possession of 125 live ammunition under Section 27(1) of the Explosives Act. The arrest occurred in May 2009 during an investigation under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Evidence from eight witnesses supported the recovery of an MP5 submachine gun, identified by its serial number, from a Hambantota residence. The appeal focused on the interpretation of Section 27 of the Evidence Ordinance, the nature of possession, and the evaluation of defense evidence.

K.M.G.H. Kulatunga, J. determined that Section 27 recovery demonstrated knowledge of the we