Angage Amila Swarnajith Perera vs. Officer in Charge Police Station, Ahangama – CA BAIL 71/2021-2022

In Officer in Charge, Police Station, Ahangama (and Hon. Attorney General) v. Angage Amila Swarnajith Perera, the court addressed the issue of whether bail should be granted under Section 10(1)(a) of the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of and Crime Witnesses Act No. 4 of 2015, focusing on the requirement for “exceptional circumstances.” It was held that prolonged remand without indictment constitutes an “exceptional circumstance” justifying bail under the Act. The court reaffirmed the principle that statutory obligations to expedite proceedings must be observed, and a failure to do so can amount to exceptional circumstances for bail. The decision relied on a purposive interpretation of the Act and emphasized that continued detention absent indictment undermines statutory protection