Nanomi Aarachchige Ajith Ashoka Perera vs Officer in Charge Ingiriya Police Station – CA PHC APN: 119/2020-2021

In the case between Nanomi Aarachchige Ajith Ashoka Perera (Petitioner) and the Officer in Charge, Ingiriya Police Station, and others (Respondents), the court addressed the issue of whether the High Court Judge of Panadura’s order dated 07.07.2020, denying bail to the suspect under remand for a heroin-related offence, warranted revision. It was held that the failure of the High Court Judge to accurately consider the government analyst’s finding—establishing the quantity of heroin as less than 2 grams rather than 7 grams as referenced—constituted an exceptional circumstance justifying intervention. The principles governing the grant of bail under the Poisons Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act and the necessity to identify genuine “exceptional circumstances” were reaffirmed. The decision relied