Bulathwelage Upendra Premarathne v. Hon. Attorney General – CA 288/2006-2006

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Bulathwelage Upendra Premarathne, the court addressed the issue of whether the conviction for possession of 0.896 grams of heroin under section 54A(d) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance was valid, and whether the sentence imposed by the High Court required enhancement due to a previous conviction. It was determined that the conviction was supported by uncontested evidence relating to the arrest and chain of custody for the heroin, and that alleged procedural irregularities and the defense’s claims regarding the source of the drugs were not substantiated through trial evidence. The findings established that the High Court Judge had adequately considered the defe