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
- NOVEMBER 11, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
On November 11, Wator Abata Asharij Zembini, 29, a...
On November 11, Wator Abata Asharij Zembini, 29, a Sri Lankan bus driver at a private school, was put to death in the United Arab Emirates by firing squad because convicted of the premeditated murder of Nasser Abdullatif Mohammed Al Obaidli, an 18-year-ol
- OCTOBER 1, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
In October, security has been tightened in the country's...
In October, security has been tightened in the country's two main jails amid signs of unrest among the prisoners sentenced to be executed by hanging, following earlier announcements that the death penalty would be carried out in future
- MAY 31, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
On May 31, the Colombo High Court sentenced 3 Sri Lankans,...
On May 31, the Colombo High Court sentenced 3 Sri Lankans, Basil Mendis, Chaminda Kumara and Ajith Fernando, all in their early twenties, to death for the rape and murder of Rita Manoharan, killed last October
- APRIL 1, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
In April, Bishop Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary of the...
In April, Bishop Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference said: "We appreciate the Government's interest in restoring law and order, but we are not in favor of the death penalty
- MARCH 13, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
On March 13, Sri Lanka said it would start carrying...
On March 13, Sri Lanka said it would start carrying out executions again, after a gap of more than 40 years, to curb rising crime
- FEBRUARY 23, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
On February 23, the Forum of the Representatives of...
On February 23, the Forum of the Representatives of State Corporations and Statutory Bodies urged the Government to take steps to arrest the rising wave of crime in the country by amending Section 296 of the Penal Code to include murder, sexual abuse agai
- JANUARY 1, 1999Sri 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
- JANUARY 1, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
The last execution was carried out on June 23, 1976,...
The last execution was carried out on June 23, 1976, when 27-year-old Jayasinghe Chandradasa, a farmer convicted of murder, was hanged to death
- JANUARY 1, 1999Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka was a cosponsor of the amendments presented...
Sri Lanka was a cosponsor of the amendments presented by Egypt (A/C