Weerasinghe Arachchige Sujeewa Gayani vs. The Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Corruption Unit, Police Station Negombo – CA/BAL/0512/2023-2024

In the case of Weerasinghe Arachchige Sujeewa Gayani v. The Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Corruption Unit, Police Station Negombo, and others, the court considered whether exceptional circumstances justified granting bail under Section 83 of the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The issue centered on prolonged remand custody of the 1st suspect, delayed indictment, and the lack of any likelihood of flight or risk to public safety. It was held that these circumstances met the threshold for exceptional circumstances, allowing for the grant of bail. The decision reaffirmed principles from prior case law interpreting the threshold for releasing suspects accused under serious statutory provisions when delay and lack of public risk are established. The case underscored the judiciary’s disc