Walakada Gamage Priyantha vs. The Honourable Attorney General – CA HCC/261/2014-2023

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (plaintiff) and Walakada Gamage Priyantha (defendant), the court examined issues relating to the chain of custody for seized heroin, the significance of discrepancies in the measured weight of the heroin, the sufficiency of evidence for proving drug trafficking as opposed to mere possession, and the applicability of recent legislative amendments that reduced sentencing severity for certain drug offences. The trafficking conviction was set aside, and only the possession conviction was affirmed. Sentencing was modified in alignment with the amendment, reducing imprisonment and imposing a fine. The decision was guided by statutory interpretation, precedential case law, and the Interpretation Ordinance. It was established that