Vidanage Prasanna Indika Perera vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/351/2019-2025

In the case between Vidanage Prasanna Indika Perera (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed whether the trial judge properly assessed the probabilities of the prosecution’s case in comparison to that of the defence, whether adequate consideration was given to the defence’s account, and whether the chain of custody for the heroin was sufficiently established. It was held that material contradictions and procedural irregularities—particularly regarding witness credibility and evidence handling—precluded a finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The court reaffirmed the principle that a conviction must rest on reliable evidence and strict adherence to procedures safeguarding the chain of custody,