Pathirana Wasam Don Priyantha alias Sandun vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/84/22-2024

In the case between Pathirana Wasam Don Priyantha alias Sandun (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General (Complainant-Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the prosecution had established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a charge of possession and trafficking of heroin under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It was concluded that deficiencies in the prosecution’s case, specifically regarding the credibility of the evidence and the reasonableness of trial proceedings, failed to satisfy the legal standard required for conviction. The decision reaffirmed the principle that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution and that the accused is entitled to a fair trial. Reference was made to established precedents safeguarding the presumption of innocen