The Attorney General vs Nawalage Lasantha Senanayake – CA 488/2017-2022

In the case between The Hon. Attorney General (Appellant) and Nawalage Lasantha Senanayake (Respondent), the court addressed the propriety of the sentence imposed for possession and trafficking of less than one gram of heroin under Sections 54(A)(b) and (d) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The main issue concerned whether the suspended sentence and fine ordered by the High Court of Colombo contravened mandatory legal requirements, especially in the context of the Respondent’s repeated prior convictions. It was held that the original sentence was manifestly erroneous and inadequate, failing to comply with statutory minimums and disregarding the gravity of the offense in light of the offender’s criminal history. The court set aside the High Court’s sentence and substitute