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 25, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: 18 SENTENCED TO DEATH IN US TEA FIRM CASE
A court in Sri Lanka has given death sentences to 18 men over murdering a US tea company executive in the capital Colombo three years ago, the largest group to be condemned in a single trial in the South Asian country.
OCTOBER 31, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER A MURDER CASE
The Colombo High Court has sentenced to death five relatives convicted of murdering an individual.
OCTOBER 13, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: WOMAN KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH
The North Central Province High Court Judge, Manjula Thilakaratne, handed down the death sentence to a
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MURDER SUSPECTS GET DEATH SENTENCE AFTER 23 YEARS
High Court Judge of Hambantota, Ajith Masinha, sentenced to death three suspects in a murder case that
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HAMBANTOTA
Three people were sentenced to death by the Hambantota Provincial High Court on charges of having
JUNE 22, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON LEADERS TO HAVE COURAGE TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Delivering the opening address at the first plenary session of Sixth World Congress Against the Death
- JUNE 15, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR JORDANIAN HEROIN PEDDLER
The Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilake sentenced to death Jordanian who was found guilty
MAY 23, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: SIRISENA PARDONS 608 PRISONERS
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has granted a presidential pardon for 608 inmates from Prisons
- APRIL 25, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF 83 INMATES
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to commute the death sentences of 83 prisoners in death row to life sentences.
FEBRUARY 9, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: SEVEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER A 1989 MURDER
Seven persons have been sentenced to death by the Tangalle High Court over a murder reported in 1989.
- FEBRUARY 7, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW TO GET LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Following a set of recommendations made by a committee appointed to look into the death sentence issued on several convicts, it has been decided to convert the death sentence imposed on 34 of those convicts into life imprisonment.
- JANUARY 1, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person