Bethmage Pradeep Kumara Perera vs Hon. Attorney General – CA CASE NO: BAL/246/2023-2023

In Bethmage Pradeep Kumara Perera v. Hon. Attorney General & Officer in Charge, Crime Division, the court addressed the issue of whether bail should be granted under Section 83(2) of the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (as amended by Act No. 41 of 2022), with particular reference to the prolonged remand of the 3rd suspect and alleged violations of fundamental rights. It was determined that the statutory prohibition on bail remained effective unless exceptional circumstances were demonstrated, which the petitioner failed to establish. The holding reaffirmed the principle that, for offences involving commercial quantities of dangerous drugs, bail may only be granted in rare and exceptional circumstances, emphasizing strict judicial adherence to statutory exclusions, supported b