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
- APRIL 12, 2004Sri 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.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
A UN panel denounced persistent reports of torture...
A UN panel denounced persistent reports of torture in Sri Lanka and criticised the impunity enjoyed by security forces for crimes committed in the conflict with the Tamil Tiger rebels
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
September 17-19, 2003: an HOC delegation made up of...
September 17-19, 2003: an HOC delegation made up of Italian MP Enrico Buemi, MEP Marco Cappato, Regional Counsellor for Lombardy (Italy) Alessandro Litta Modignani and HOC Board Member Anna Zammit, visited Sri Lanka to lobby for support of a worldwide mor
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
The debate on the resumption of executions seemed to...
The debate on the resumption of executions seemed to have died down somewhat after the Sri Lanka National Human Rights Commission wrote to the government pointing out that such a move would be in breach of the country's international obligations according
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
On September 19, the HOC delegation met the Secretary...
On September 19, the HOC delegation met the Secretary to the Justice Ministry Ms Dhara Wijayatilake, who pointed out that Sri Lanka, despite still having the death penalty on its statute books could not align itself with retentionist countries in internat
- JULY 2, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
A Sri Lankan court sentenced five people to death,...
A Sri Lankan court sentenced five people to death, including two police officers, for their role in a massacre at a detention camp housing suspected Tamil Tiger rebels and former child soldiers
- JUNE 26, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Shanmuga Sundaram Raghupathi, a member of Sri Lanka's...
Shanmuga Sundaram Raghupathi, a member of Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tiger rebels who was charged with attacking a navy base at Karainagar in the northern Karaitivu island, was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court, Sri Lanka, The Island newspape
- APRIL 24, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka abstained from the resolution on the death...
Sri Lanka abstained from the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva
- MARCH 2, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga will oppose...
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga will oppose moves by the government to re-implement the death penalty in the island, The Sunday Times reported
- FEBRUARY 9, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
A visit to a Colombo prison by Sri Lanka's Interior...
A visit to a Colombo prison by Sri Lanka's Interior Minister John Amaratunga to inspect the gallows and ensure the hangman's noose is ready for use - if needed - triggered a fresh debate on the use of the death penalty to curb crime
- JANUARY 1, 2003Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person...
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person to be executed by bearing false witness, offenses against the State, economic offenses, drug offenses and arms trading
- OCTOBER 1, 2002Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka's Colombo High Court sentenced to death three...
Sri Lanka's Colombo High Court sentenced to death three suspects charged with murdering a customs officer, the Island newspaper said