Sisirathunge v. Attorney General – sllr 1995 volume 2 page 064

In the case between Sisirathunga (accused-appellant) and the Attorney General, the court addressed the admissibility and evaluation of testimonial and physical evidence in a murder conviction. The determination centered on whether the testimony of an adverse witness and the evidence recovered under Section 27 of the Evidence Ordinance were correctly admitted and properly weighed by the jury. It was held that when witness evidence is rendered unreliable due to material inconsistencies, such testimony must be excluded from consideration. Additionally, the instructions provided to the jury on assessing circumstantial evidence were found to be insufficient. The conviction and sentence were accordingly set aside, reaffirming the principle that strict standards must apply to the admission and ev