Ranasinghe Arachchige Lionel alias Ariyapala vs Attorney General – CN177/2010-2010

In the case between the Attorney General and Ranasinghe Arachchige Lionel alias Ariyapala, the court addressed whether the conviction for possession of 2.3 grams of heroin under section 54A(d) of the Poisons Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance was proper in law. The court held that the conviction and sentence were valid, finding no merit in the grounds of appeal. The key legal principle reaffirmed is that credible testimony of a police officer, if unshaken in cross-examination, can suffice to establish the charge, and the chain of production does not require absolute infallibility if securely proven. Reliance was placed on the Evidence Ordinance and relevant legal precedent, emphasizing that technical discrepancies in the chain of custody and procedural objections regarding dock statements