Kasthuri Arrachchige Tiyulin Wickremarathna vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC 0258/23-2025

In Kasthuri Arrachchige Tiyulin Wickremarathna v. The Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed the issue of the legality and proportionality of sentencing imposed for possession and trafficking of heroin. It was determined that the sentencing order, involving rigorous imprisonment and fines, complied with applicable statutory guidelines and was not disproportionate, even when considering the appellant’s personal mitigating circumstances. The holding reaffirmed the principle that sentencing must adhere to legislative mandates unless exceptional circumstances genuinely warrant deviation. Reliance was placed on existing statutory frameworks and previous judicial interpretation, emphasizing strict adherence to sentencing regimes established for serious narcotic offences, with personal circum