Lekamwasam Liyanage Lakshani v. Officer-in-Charge, Police Station, Sapugaskanda & The Hon. Attorney General – CA CPA/79/22-2021

In Lekamwasam Liyanage Lakshani v. Officer-in-Charge, Police Station Sapugaskanda & Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed whether exceptional circumstances justified the grant of bail to the petitioner and related suspects in connection with possession of commercial quantities of heroin. It was held that the facts did not demonstrate such exceptional circumstances, thus upholding the High Court’s refusal of bail under Section 83(1) of the relevant Act. The principle reaffirmed is that in narcotics offences involving commercial quantities, bail is only warranted upon showing truly exceptional facts that shock the conscience of the court. The decision referenced statutory guidelines regarding bail for serious narcotics charges, highlighting the necessity of strict adherence unless excep