Nanayakkara Wasam Hiniduwa Liyanage Piyadasa et al v The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/480-482/2017-2022

In the case between Nanayakkara Wasam Hiniduwa Liyanage Piyadasa and others (Accused-Appellants) and the Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt the offences of possession and trafficking of heroin by the Appellants, including the integrity of the chain of custody of the seized drugs and the credibility of prosecution evidence. It was held that the prosecution failed to establish the chain of custody and prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, resulting in acquittal of the Appellants. The decision reaffirmed the principle that establishing the unbroken chain of custody is essential for convictions in drug-related offences. Precedents and statutory requirements regarding the handling of exhib