Yomi Merinnage Ratnapala Silva vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC 0111/2024-2025

In the case of Yomi Merinnage Ratnapala Silva and The Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed whether the prosecution had proven the charges of trafficking and possession of heroin beyond a reasonable doubt. The court held that due to material inconsistencies and contradictions in the testimonies of key prosecution witnesses, the prosecution failed to meet the required standard of proof. It was established that the trial court did not adequately address these inconsistencies, leading to significant doubt regarding the accused-appellant’s guilt. The principle reaffirmed in this decision is that the burden rests on the prosecution to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and any material discrepancies in evidence must be resolved in favor of the accused. This outcome relied on well-es