Balakrishnan Padmini Priyadarshani v. The Officer-in-Charge, Police Station, Wattala & The Attorney General – CA BAIL 0017/2023-2023

Brief
In the case between Balakrishnan Padmini Priyadarshani (petitioner) and the Officer-in-Charge, Wattala Police Station and the Attorney General (respondents), the court addressed the issue of bail eligibility under Section 83(2) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act No. 41 of 2022, in the context of a serious drugs-related offence. It was held that, despite discrepancies regarding the weight of seized heroin, the gravity of the offence, the existence of prior convictions and pending drug-related cases, and the risk of absconding justified dismissal of the bail application. The principle reaffirmed was that exceptional circumstances must be clearly established to warrant bail in serious drug offences, especially where there is a significant risk to the administratio