IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA In the matter of an appeal in terms of Section 331 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No.15 of 1979, read with Article138 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Complainant CA/HCC-101/2020 Vs.

High Court of Kalutara 1) Kalawila Pathirage Pradeep Chandana Case No: 271/2003

2) Senevirathne Aarachchige Hemantha Perera (alias) Jayasuriya Arachchige Bimal Samantha Perera Accused And Now Between

1) Kalawila Pathirage Pradeep Chandana

1^stAccused-Appellant Vs.

The Honourable Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo 12 Complainant-Respondent BEFORE : N. Bandula Karunarathna, J.

: R. Gurusinghe, J.

COUNSEL : Chaminda Athukorale with Hafeel Fariz, Veenashani Jayathilake and Isuru Gamage for the Accused-Appellant Shanil Kularatne, DSG and Priyani Abeygunawardena SC for the Respondent.

ARGUED ON : 11/11/2021 DECIDED ON : 09/03/2022 R. Gurusinghe, J.

The first accused-appellant (the appellant) and another was indicted in the High Court of Kalutara for committing the murder of Vithanage Siripala on or around the 15^th of April 1998, at