Hettiarachchige Hiruni Alas vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0208/2018-2022

In the case between Hettiarachchige Hiruni Alas (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed the validity of a conviction and sentence for trafficking and possession of heroin under Sections 54(A)(b) and 54(A)(d) of the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It was determined that the prosecution did not prove the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, particularly due to evidentiary shortcomings, lack of crucial witness testimony, and procedural irregularities in the admission of evidence. The holding reaffirmed the principle that criminal convictions must rest on credible, reliable, and properly admitted evidence, consistent with the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The appellate decision relied on established statu