Kankanige Sumedha Indika vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0040/23-2025

In the case between Kankanige Sumedha Indika and The Hon. Attorney General), the court addressed the sufficiency of evidence and the integrity of the chain of custody regarding a heroin mixed powdered substance in a prosecution for drug trafficking and possession. It was held that discrepancies in the methods by which the narcotic substance was concealed and the inconsistencies in identification undermined the prosecution’s case, raising reasonable doubt as to the appellant’s possession. The principle reaffirmed is that a conviction for possession or trafficking of narcotics requires clear, consistent, and reliable evidence directly connecting the accused to the substance, in accordance with legal standards for chain of custody and identification. The decision relied upon a thorough assess