Opatha Kankanamge Hemantha vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0047/2021-2025

In the case between Opatha Kankanamge Hemantha and The Hon. Attorney General, the court addressed whether the prosecution had proven the charge of trafficking and possession of heroin beyond a reasonable doubt, with focus on the evidentiary process and discrepancies in witness testimonies. It was held that the prosecution failed to establish its case with the necessary threshold of certainty, resulting in the acquittal of the Accused-Appellant and the setting aside of the conviction and sentence. This decision reaffirmed the principle that criminal convictions must not rest on procedural irregularities or questionable evidence, and evidence must be reliable and consistent to satisfy the burden of proof under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The judgment underscored rigoro