November 18, Colombo (LNW): A woman has been sentenced to life in prison by the Colombo High Court after being convicted of possessing and distributing more than 42 grammes of heroin.
The ruling, delivered by High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne, followed an extended legal process that examined both the circumstances of her arrest and the wider network allegedly connected to her activities.
The defendant was taken into custody during a Police Narcotics Bureau operation in the Kotte area in mid-September 2021.
Prosecutors later charged her not only with possession and trafficking of 42.23 grammes of heroin, but also with having amassed around Rs. 5 million through illicit drug dealings.
While the court found sufficient evidence to convict her on the narcotics charges, it ruled that the allegation relating to illegal earnings could not be substantiated. As a result, she was cleared of that financial charge.
Court officials noted that the case underscores continuing concerns about small-scale operatives being drawn into larger drug networks.
Anti-narcotics officers said the investigation had provided fresh leads which may support ongoing efforts to disrupt distribution channels in several urban pockets around Colombo.
