State vs. Mohomad Anvar Mohomad Ziyam et al. – CA PHC APN 93/2021-2021

In the case between Hon. Attorney General (Complainant–Respondent) and Wickramasinghe Arachchilage Don Amarasiri alias Japan Chuti (Petitioner, the 4th Accused), the court addressed the issue of whether “exceptional circumstances” existed to justify granting bail to an accused indicted under section 83 of the Poisons Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, relating to conspiracy and aiding and abetting heroin trafficking. The court held that compelling family circumstances—specifically, the accused being the sole available parent due to the spouse’s critical illness—constitute “exceptional circumstances” warranting bail under the relevant statutory regime. This judgment reaffirmed the legal principle that, despite the restrictive bail provisions in narcotics cases, bail may be allowed where u