Officer-in-Charge, Police station, Madampe vs Rankoth Pedige Hasan Buddhika and Lindamulage Anoma Priyanga Silva – CA PHC APN 0027/23-2023

In the case between Rankoth Pedige Hasan Buddhika (Petitioner) and the Officer-in-Charge, Police Station, Madampe, with the Attorney General and others (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the High Court’s refusal to grant bail for possession of 2.44 grams of Heroin was appropriate under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance as amended by Act No. 41 of 2022. It was held that, as the quantity involved was below the 10-gram statutory threshold, bail could not be refused solely based on past convictions or pending cases. The principle reaffirmed is that when the pure quantity of dangerous drugs is under 10 grams, the accused is entitled to bail subject to strict conditions unless exceptional circumstances are established. This determination relied upon the statut