Saruwe Liyanage Janaka Karunaratne vs. The Attorney General – CA HCC/0050/2018-2022

In the case between the Attorney General, representing the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Party A), and Saruwe Liyanage Janaka Karunaratne (Party B), the court addressed the issue of whether the conviction and sentence of life imprisonment for possession of heroin under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance should be upheld. The court held that the conviction and sentence for possession were unsafe, finding that significant doubts existed in the prosecution’s narrative and procedural compliance. This decision reaffirmed the principle that the burden of proof always rests with the prosecution and convictions must be based on evidence establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Reliance was placed on established authorities that emphasize the presumption of innocence