Meringga Danasiri vs Hon. Attorney General – CA PHC/APN/17/2015-2017

In the case between Meringga Danasiri and the Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed the issue of bail eligibility when alleged “exceptional circumstances” are cited under Section 83(1) of the Poison Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It was held that factors such as lengthy remand, spousal illness, and parental responsibilities do not constitute exceptional circumstances justifying the grant of bail under the relevant statute. The legal principle reaffirmed that the threshold for “exceptional circumstances” under this Ordinance remains high, and judicial discretion must be exercised cautiously, guided by the legislative intent to prevent leniency in serious drug-related cases.

L.T.B. Dehideniya J. — The findings established that the accused petitioner, charged under the Poison Opi