IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA In the matter of an Appeal made under Section 331(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No.15 of 1979, read with Article 138 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

The Attorney General Attorney General’s Department Colombo-12 COMPLAINANT Court of Appeal No: 1. Mohamad Lebbe Mohamad Zakaria CA/HCC/196/17 2. Mohamad Jamaldeen Mohamad High Court of Panadura Cassim Case No.HC 2396/2007 3. Mohamad Farook Mohamad Iqbal

4. Mohamad Zakaria Mohamad Safran

5. Mohamad Rahim Mohamad Irshad 6. Mohamad Nazeer Mohamad Rizwan

7. Mohamad Rahim Mohamad Nowshad ACCUSED AND NOW BETWEEN

1. Mohamad Lebbe Mohamad Zakaria 2. Mohamad Jamaldeen Mohamad Cassim

3. Mohamad Farook Mohamad Iqbal ACCUSED-APPELLANTS Vs.

The Hon. Attorney General Attorney General's Department Colombo-12 COMPLAINANT-RESPONDENT BEFORE : Sampath B. Abayakoon, J.

P. Kumararatnam, J.

COUNSEL : Neranjan Jayasinghe with Harshana Ananda for the 2^nd Appellant.

Indica Mallawarachchi for the 3^rd Appellant.

Dileepa Peeris, SDSG for the Respondent.

ARGUED ON : 06/10/2023 DECIDED ON : 29/01/2024 *******************

JUDGMENT

P. Kumararatnam, J.

The abov