Lakshman De Silva v. Hon.H.W.Senanayake and Another – sllr 1990 volume 1 page 119

In the case between Lakshman de Silva (Plaintiff) and Hon. H. W. Senanayake and another (Defendants), the court addressed whether an accused petitioner was entitled to specific facilities (a table and a chair) during trial proceedings and determined the precise commencement point of a trial under sections 195 and 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The findings established that the trial had not formally commenced under the statutory definition, as the indictment had been read but a plea had yet to be entered. The provision of a table and chair was considered desirable for an undefended accused, but no legal right to such facilities was recognized. Factual examination revealed no breach of an undertaking regarding facilities, and the petitioner’s substantive complaints were unsupported