Sri Lanka
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist de facto
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person...
- News items in the archive
- 354
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Sri Lanka is classified as Abolitionist de facto in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 354 news items on Sri Lanka, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
JULY 31, 2026Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TWO EX OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2019 EASTER BOMBINGS
- JULY 31, 2026Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TWO EX-OFFICIALS SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2019 EASTER BOMBINGS
FEBRUARY 18, 2026Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: 817 INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED TO DEATH CURRENTLY HELD IN PRISONS
The Ministry of Justice and National Integration announced that a total of 817 individuals, both local and foreign, sentenced to death are currently imprisoned across the country, Ada Derana reported on February 16, 2026.
FEBRUARY 11, 2026Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: 12 SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER EX-MP AMARAKEERTHI ATHUKORALA’S MURDER
Twelve individuals, who were found guilty over the murder of former Polonnaruwa District Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer in 2022, were sentenced to death on February 11, 2026.
NOVEMBER 26, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TEN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER IN EMBILIPITIYA
The Embilipitiya High Court on November 24, 2025 sentenced ten people to death over the killing of a man in the Mullagasaya area in 2011.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: SIX SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER DOUBLE MURDER IN AMPARA
The Ampara High Court on November 10, 2025 sentenced six individuals to death in connection with a murder that took place on April 14, 2015.
OCTOBER 25, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: OVER 800 PERSONS ON DEATH ROW
A total of 826 individuals are on death row at present (October 2025), Commissioner of Prisons and Media Spokesman Jagath Weerasinghe stated.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR POSSESSING AND TRAFFICKING HEROIN
Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwidha on September 4, 2025 sentenced a 52-year-old married woman to death after finding her guilty of possessing and trafficking 41.65 grams of heroin.
- AUGUST 21, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE-WHEELER DRIVER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING MAN IN KELANIYA
A 43-year-old three-wheeler driver was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on August 21, 2025, after being found guilty of stabbing and killing a person with a sharp weapon following an argument.
JULY 21, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE OVERTURNED FOR 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN 1993 MURDER
An 80-year-old woman who had been sentenced to death in Sri Lanka by the Hambantota High Court for a 1993 murder was acquitted and released by the Court of Appeal on July 18, 2025 bringing an end to a 32-year legal battle.
APRIL 30, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2012 YOUTH MURDER IN COLOMBO
The Colombo High Court on April 28, 2025 imposed the death penalty on five individuals for the brutal killing of a 21-year-old youth adjacent to a temple in Mattakkuliya in 2012.
- APRIL 28, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING WOMAN, HIDING BODY IN TRAVEL BAG
The Colombo High Court on April 24, 2025 sentenced a man to death for the murder of a woman whose body was found concealed in a travel bag—an incident that sent shockwaves across the country back in 2015.
- APRIL 3, 2025Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: PERSON SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER HEROIN POSSESSION
The Colombo High Court on April 3, 2025 sentenced to death a person who was found guilty of being in the possession of over 16 grams of heroin and drug trafficking.
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 PENALTY
SRI 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 PENALTY
SRI 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.
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 PENALTY
SRI 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 PENALTY
SRI 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.