Albaradura Rumesh De Silva vs Hon. Attorney General – SC/SPL/LA NO 43/2023-2024

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Albaradura Rumesh De Silva, the court addressed the issue of whether the appellate and trial courts correctly evaluated the defense contained in the accused’s Dock Statement, specifically regarding allegations of police assault and the credibility of police conduct in the context of alleged drug trafficking. It was held that the convictions and sentences entered by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, based on an improper assessment of the Dock Statement, could not stand. The principle reaffirmed is that Dock Statements presented by the accused must be afforded a fair and unbiased evaluation in accordance with legal standards for weighing such evidence. The matter was remanded to the High Court of Colombo for a