Karalahinge Nimali Renuka vs Officer in Charge, Police Station, Walasmulla – CA BAL/26/2020-2021

In Officer in Charge, Police Station, Walasmulla v. Attorney General and Chaminda Egodage, the court addressed whether bail should be granted to a suspect charged under Section 8(2) and 8(3) of the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses Act, No. 4 of 2015, where Section 10(1)(a) restricts bail except in “exceptional circumstances.” The proceedings examined the prolonged detention of the suspect without indictment, considering if such delay constituted “exceptional circumstances” as required by law. The court held that unexplained, inordinate delay in serving indictments and the attendant personal and procedural hardships warranted recognition as exceptional circumstances. Bail was granted subject to strict conditions. The decision reinforced that prolonged pre-indi