The Court of Appeal today ordered to acquit former Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Saruwa Liyanage Sunil of a case filed against him for raping an underage girl in 2012.
Saruwa Liyanage was sentenced to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court for allegedly raping an underage girl (statutory rape) in 2012.
The Court of Appeal decided to vacate the accused’s conviction and sentence imposed by the Colombo High Court. since the trial judge had failed to evaluate evidence against the accused.
In his appeal, the accused claimed that the high court’s conviction could not be upheld because the victim categorically denied the petitioner raped her during the high court trial.
The former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman filed this appeal seeking the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to review and set aside his conviction and the rigorous imprisonment imposed by the High Court on January 17, 2020.
The Attorney General had filed an indictment against the former Chairman of the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha, Saruwa Liyanage Sunil, for allegedly raping an underage girl in Akuressa between May 23, 2012 and July 2, 2012.
President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne and Senior Counsel Darshana Kuruppu appeared for the accused. Senior Deputy Solicitor General Shanil Kularatne appeared for the Attorney General.
