Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka v. Mohamed Jafar Mohamed Afsal, Weerasinghe Arachchige Chaminda Weerasinghe, and Mohamed Riyas Fasaldeen – HCC/0340-0342/2019-2022

In the case between Mohamed Jafar Mohamed Afsal and others (Appellants) and the Hon. Attorney General, representing the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Respondent), the court addressed the propriety of convictions for trafficking and possession of 4.11 grams of heroin. It was held that significant improbabilities and inconsistencies existed in the prosecution’s evidence—particularly regarding the capacity of prosecution witnesses to observe the alleged criminal conduct and the reliability of the chain of custody. The principle reaffirmed is that legal guilt must be proven beyond reasonable doubt, particularly when conviction rests on circumstantial and direct evidence subject to doubt. The decision relied on established legal standards for assessment of testimonial credibility