Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka v. Wickramage Ranjith Kumara alias Podi – CA PHC APN 25/2015-2016

In Widanagamage Ajith Kumara v. Hon. Attorney General (representing the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) and Wickramage Ranjith Kumara alias Podi, the court examined whether Section 79 of the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance grants a third party—specifically, the applicant-petitioner—the right to be heard regarding confiscation of a vehicle used in the commission of a drug-related offence. It was held that Section 79 prescribes automatic forfeiture upon conviction and does not accommodate third-party inquiries or revisionary relief, distinguishing it from statutes such as the Forest Ordinance. This decision relied on statutory interpretation, reinforcing that courts may not override express legislative mandates pertaining to forfeiture. The outcome affirmed that thi