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 10, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: COUPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR TORTURING AND MURDERING TWO-YEAR-OLD ADOPTED BOY
Colombo High Court Judge Sujeewa Nishshanka, on March 6, 2025 sentenced to death a man and his wife for torturing and murdering a two-year-old boy whom they had adopted.
FEBRUARY 4, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: ELEVEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER AFTER 20 YEARS
Eleven accused who stood indicted with murder were found guilty and sentenced to death by Uva Province High Court Judge Prasanna Alwis, Daily Mirror reported on January 31, 2025.
OCTOBER 22, 2024Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER REPORTED 24 YEARS AGO
A man was sentenced to death in Sri Lanka on October 16, 2024 over the murder of a person in Imaduwa in February 2000.
JANUARY 30, 2024Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: SEVEN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN BOAT HIJACK CASE
The Colombo High Court on January 24, 2024 sentenced to death seven accused who were found guilty of allegedly forcibly hijacking a fishing boat in an attempt to flee to Australia illegally...
DECEMBER 5, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER COMMITTED IN 2010
The Central Province Civil Appellate High Court has sentenced two individuals to death after they were found guilty of murdering an individual back in 2010, Ada Derana reported on December 5, 2023.
- NOVEMBER 23, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
A 41-year-old accused who was found guilty for murdering a 52-year-old woman who lived alone in her house by stabbing with a screwdriver on November 22, 2023 was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court.
OCTOBER 16, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 1992 MURDER IN KALUTARA
Kalutara High Court Judge Pradeep Abeyratne on October 10, 2023 convicted three accused for beating a person with clubs 31 years ago and sentenced them to death.
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR 8 FROM KALUTARA OVER 2003 MURDER
The Kalutara High Court on September 27, 2023 sentenced to death eight persons over a murder reported 20 years ago.
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
five people sentenced to death for heroin trafficking.
The Colombo High Court on September 27, 2023 sentenced five people to death for heroin trafficking.
- JULY 9, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
A Nigerian national who was found guilty for possession and trafficking 249.19g of Cocaine on July 6, 2023 was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court.
JUNE 15, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH ROW CONVICT ARRESTED AFTER ALMOST 20 YEARS
A 54-year-old man who had been in hiding for almost two decades and was later sentenced to death was arrested on June 14, 2023 in Ragama.
- MARCH 9, 2023Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: FIVE PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2014 MURDER
Five persons were sentenced to death on 8 March 2023 in Sri Lanka for murder.