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
MARCH 9, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FIVE PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2014 MURDER
Five persons were sentenced to death on 8 March 2023 in Sri Lanka for murder.
MARCH 2, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2003 MURDER
The Colombo High Court on 1st March 2023 sentenced four accused to death after finding them guilty of killing a person using a sharp knife.
- FEBRUARY 22, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: FOUR POLICE OFFICERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The Hambantota High Court on 15 February 2023 sentenced to death four Police officers, including an Officer-in-Charge (OIC) over the death of an individual during a raid on a gambling den in Thissamaharamaya.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR GRANDPASS MURDER BACK IN 2008
Colombo High Court Judge Mahesh Weeraman sentenced to death two men who were found guilty of hacking death a man in 2008, News 1st reported on 15 February 2023.
FEBRUARY 9, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR STABBING ANOTHER 16 TIMES, AND KILLING HIM
The Colombo High Court on 7 February 2023 sentenced to death a father of two who was found guilty of killing a young man suspected of having an affair with his wife.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2022Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE, MURDER
A man who was found guilty for rape and killing his sister-in-law was on 10 August 2022 sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2022Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: PRESIDENT INFORMS THE SUPREME COURT THAT HE WILL NOT SIGN THE DEATH SENTENCES
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on 31 August 2022 informed the Supreme Court through the Attorney General that he will not sign the implementation of the death penalty.
- JULY 3, 2022Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: SIX PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH 22 YEARS AFTER FIVE PEOPLE WERE SHOT DEAD IN 2000
Six people on 30 June 2022 were sentenced to death after they were convicted of murdering five people in Devinuawara in 2000.
JANUARY 12, 2022Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: PRISON CHIEF GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR MASSACRE
A top Sri Lankan prison official was sentenced to death on 12 January 2022 over the killing of 27 inmates in an execution-style massacre that attracted international condemnation.
DECEMBER 14, 2021Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: CABINET NOD TO AMEND CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ON DEATH SENTENCE FOR MINORS
Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a proposal to amend Section 281 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to remove any uncertainty over not pronouncing the death sentence on any minor.
DECEMBER 13, 2021Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: KALUTARA HIGH COURT GIVES DEATH SENTENCE TO FIVE PERSONS
The Kalutara High Court on 13 December 2021 sentenced five persons to death.
JULY 1, 2021Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH ROW PRISONERS END HUNGER STRIKE
Death row prisoners in Sri Lanka, who were on a hunger strike demanding commutation of their sentences, similar to the Presidential pardon extended to a former parliamentarian facing capital punishment earlier in the week, have ended their protest after o