Mohamed Nijabdeen Mohamed Rizwan vs Attorney General – CA/HCC/186/2024-2025

In Attorney General vs. Mohamed Nijabdeen Mohamed Rizwan, decided by the High Court of Colombo on 09.02.2024, the court addressed the issue of possession and trafficking of heroin. The court held that the conviction and sentence imposed on the accused were affirmed, reaffirming the principle that sentencing must balance the interests of public deterrence with mitigating circumstances. This decision relied on the statutory provisions of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance No. 13 of 1984 and referenced established sentencing guidelines regarding the evaluation of aggravating and mitigating factors.

B. Sasi Mahendran, J.: It was determined that substantial evidence, including testimony and documentary productions, established the accused’s involvement in heroin possession an