Gamage Maneesha Madhuwanthi Gamage Vs. Hon. Attorney General – CA CPA/129/2020-2020

In the case between Gamage Maneesha Madhuwanthi Gamage (Petitioner) and the Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed whether the High Court’s refusal to grant bail to the Petitioner—charged with possession and trafficking of less than 1g of heroin—should be revisited. The holding established that prolonged remand without trial commencement, minimal quantity of contraband, and the exceptional threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic constituted sufficient “exceptional circumstances” under the relevant bail statute to justify granting bail. The court set aside the High Court’s order of 23/06/2020, thereby granting bail subject to set conditions, underscoring that procedural delays and public health concerns during a pandemic can warrant