Jayasekera Vithanage Kanthi vs. Officer-in-Charge, Police Narcotics Bureau, and The Attorney General – CA PHC APN/0072/2022-2023

In the case between the petitioner (mother of the suspect, representing the interests of the Army deserter arrested in Puhulangaha Hena, Wekada, Midigama, Ahangama) and the Police Narcotics Bureau (Officer-in-Charge, Colombo-01) along with the Attorney General’s Department (Colombo-12), the court addressed the revision application challenging the High Court’s refusal to grant bail for serious heroin trafficking charges involving a significant quantity of heroin (31 Kg and 26.04 grams). It was determined that, pursuant to the amended Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act, the existence of exceptional circumstances is mandatory for considering bail in such offences. The findings established that the seriousness of the offence, corroborated by forensic evidence, and the absence of sufficient