328. At the hearing of the appeal the court may if it considers that there is no sufficient ground for interfering dismiss the appeal or may -
| (a) in an appeal from an order of acquittal, reverse such order and direct that further inquiry be made or that the accused be re-tried or committed for trial as the case may be or find him guilty and pass sentence on him according to law; |
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| (b) in an appeal from a conviction-
| | (i) reverse the verdict and sentence and acquit or discharge the accused or order him to be re-tried by a court of competent jurisdiction or committed for trial, or | | |
| | (ii) alter the verdict maintaining the sentence, or with or without altering the verdict increase or reduce the amount of the sentence or the nature thereof; | | |
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| (c) in an appeal from any other order, alter or reverse such order : |
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Provided always that the sentence awarded on an appeal shall not exceed the sentence which might have been awarded by the court of first instance. |
Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts