Weddikkarage Thusharika Priyadarshani Silva vs The Attorney General – CA HCC/0080/2020-2022

In the case between The Attorney General (on behalf of the State) and Weddikkarage Thusharika Priyadarshani Silva, the court addressed the issue of whether the conviction and sentence for possession and trafficking of 1.38 grams of heroin were justified. The Court of Appeal held that critical deficiencies existed in the High Court’s evaluation of both the prosecution and defence evidence, specifically noting improper assessment of contradictions in the prosecution’s narrative, failure to rigorously consider the chain of custody, and erroneous rejection of the defence dock statement and supporting testimony. The legal principle reaffirmed is that the trial court must impartially evaluate all credible evidence, including dock statements, and acquit if reasonable doubt on the prosecution case