Sri Lanka
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- presidential republic
- CONSTITUTION
- August 16, 1978, amended in December 2001
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- a combination of common law, Roman-Germanic law, Kandyan systems, and Jaffna Tamil law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Parliament
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court and Court of Appeal (judges appointed by the President)
RELIGIONS
69.1% Buddhists, 7.6% Muslims, 15% Hindus, 8% Christians, 10% unspecified
From the country
OCTOBER 21, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 4.6 GRAMS OF HEROIN
Lakshman Jayaweera, a Sri Lankan man, was sentenced to death following a five-year trial for possessing 4.64 grams of heroin.
- JULY 25, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka. President urged to implement capital punishment
the Attorney General's Department of Sri Lanka recommended that President Chandrika Kumaratunga implement capital punishment against those already sentenced to death.
- JULY 6, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
PRESIDENT URGED TO PREVENT RETURN OF DEATH PENALTY AFTER 29 YEAR MORATORIUM
Amnesty International issued a statement saying it was gravely concerned at reports that Sri Lanka was set to carry out its first execution in 29 years and called on the country's president to prevent the resumption of executions in the country.
JULY 4, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA. FIVE PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING JUDGE
five men were sentenced to hang for killing Sarath Ambepitiya, a Sri Lankan judge who had handed down heavy sentences on gangsters.
- APRIL 20, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Sri Lanka abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
- MARCH 3, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA. MINISTER'S WIFE AND THREE OTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
N. Mary Juliet Monica Fernando, wife of Christian and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Milroy Fernando and three other accused were sentenced to death in Sri Lanka by Colombo High Court judge Upali Abeyaratne after a jury turned in a guilty verdict in the m
- FEBRUARY 21, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Mr.Shanmugam Ragupathi, a Tamil youth of Jaffna was released...
Mr.Shanmugam Ragupathi, a Tamil youth of Jaffna was released after fifteen years in Welikada jail, in Sri Lanka, when the Supreme Court quashed the death sentence imposed on him by the Colombo High Court in a case in which he was indicted by the Attorney
- JANUARY 1, 2005Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness, offences against the State, economic offences, drug offences and arms trading.
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness, offences against the State, economic offences, drug offences and arms trading.
- DECEMBER 16, 2004Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne sentenced to death Suppaiah Paulraj
Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne sentenced to death Suppaiah Paulraj
- DECEMBER 9, 2004Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Church leaders in Sri Lanka added their voices to criticism of the government's decision to reinstate the death penalty
Church leaders in Sri Lanka added their voices to criticism of the government's decision to reinstate the death penalty
- DECEMBER 1, 2004Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
the assassination of a Sri Lankan judge...
the assassination of a Sri Lankan judge...
- NOVEMBER 24, 2004Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International said it was "gravely concerned" over Sri Lanka's decision to reinstate the death penalty
Amnesty International said it was "gravely concerned" over Sri Lanka's decision to reinstate the death penalty