Dolawatte v. Attorney General – sllr 1986 volume 1 page 371

In the case between Gamini Dolawatte (Appellant) and the Attorney-General (Respondent), the court considered the admissibility of Medico Legal Reports under section 414(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, particularly concerning the evidentiary value of case history entries when the source did not testify. The dispute focused on the impact of hearsay and “double hearsay” within such reports and the sufficiency of the High Court’s jury directions regarding reliance on direct evidence versus hearsay. The appellate inquiry followed a prosecution for grievous hurt caused by acid throwing. It was determined that the Medico Legal Reports were properly admitted, with appropriate directions given to the jury about their evidentiary weight and limitations, upholding the principle that professional r