Munaweera Thanthrige Banduwathi Vs. Officer in Charge of Tangalle Police Station and others – 02/2016-2017

In the case between Munaweera Thanthrige Banduwathi (Petitioner) and Officer in Charge, Police Station, Tangalle; Attorney General; and Prasanna Wanigasinghe alias Sitiya (Respondents), the court addressed whether the Suspect-Respondent should be granted bail while in remand custody, pending charges under relevant sections of the Penal Code and the Assistance to and Protection to Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act No. 04 of 2015. It was held that bail may be granted only by the Appellate Court in exceptional circumstances as per Section 10(1)(a) of the Act. The court found that extended remand custody and the Respondent being the sole family supporter constituted exceptional circumstances, and the lack of objection from the Senior State Counsel was noted. This decision reaffirms the princi