Pathirana v. The State – sllr 1985 volume 2 page 075

In the case between Wimalaratne Pathirana (suspect) and The State, the court addressed the issue of whether bail ordered for a suspect with multiple pending cases involving allegations of fraud through an employment agency is reasonable and not excessive. It was held that bail must be “reasonably sufficient,” meaning it should be appropriate to the circumstances yet not so high as to become punitive and prevent the suspect from furnishing bail. The principle was reaffirmed that in instances with multiple pending cases relating to similar transactions, a reasonable bail can be set in a single case with formal reference to others, avoiding cumulative excessive bail. The decision relied on legal standards requiring bail not to function as a form of punishment, emphasizing that bail terms shou