Muniyandi Upul Chaminda vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0118/2020-2022

In the case between Muniyandi Upul Chaminda alias Konda Chaminda (accused-appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo (complainant-respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the charges of trafficking and possession of 3.29 grams of heroin under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It was held that material contradictions in the prosecution evidence, particularly regarding the identification of the accused, and the improper evaluation of defence evidence warranted acquittal. The principle reaffirmed is that significant contradictions, when unaddressed, create reasonable doubt and require that the benefit of such doubt be given to the accused. This decision relied on established prece