Laththunawahandi Kasun Kumara De Silva vs The Attorney General and Police Narcotics Bureau – CA BAL/155/23-2023

In the case between Laththunawahandi Kasun Kumara De Silva (petitioner/suspect) and the Attorney General, the Officer-in-Charge, Police Narcotics Bureau, Galle, among others, the court addressed the issue of whether bail could be granted under exceptional circumstances for an individual charged under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, in light of the substantial quantities of Heroin and Methamphetamine allegedly involved. It was held that the amended Section 83 (2) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act No. 41 of 2022 restricts bail to cases establishing exceptional circumstances, and mere delay in filing charges or unrelated medical evidence does not meet this threshold. The findings reaffirmed the restrictive approach to bail in serious drug-related offe