Panambarage Suranjan Alexander Fernando vs The Officer in Charge and Hon. Attorney General – CA BAL/019/2022-2022

In the case between Panambarage Shamith Jehan Fernando (Petitioner) and the Officer in Charge of Police Station Negombo and the Attorney General Department (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether exceptional circumstances justified the grant of bail under the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act No — 04 of 2015. It was determined that the prolonged remand of the Petitioner without substantial legal progress constituted an exceptional circumstance, warranting the grant of bail under appropriate conditions. This holding emphasized that the term “exceptional circumstances” is fact-specific and must be assessed in light of the unique features of each case. The decision reaffirmed that cases arising under the cited Act require priority consideration