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
OCTOBER 24, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: INDIAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DEALING IN HEROIN
An Indian national guilty of trafficking heroin on 23 October 2019 was sentenced to death by the Negombo High Court.
- OCTOBER 14, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DRUG TRAFFICKER ORDERED THE DEATH PENALTY
Drug trafficker Mohomad Gadaffi of Maligawatta on 11 October 2019 was ordered the death penalty by the Colombo High Courts.
OCTOBER 10, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF MARRIED COUPLE
An individual found guilty over the murder of a married couple in Udugama seven years ago, was sentenced to death on 4 October 2019 by the Galle High Court.
OCTOBER 4, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: MOTHER AND SON SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER
A mother and a son of the same family on 3 October 2019 were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court over a case of murder.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY COLOMBO HC
The Colombo High Court on 21 August 2019 sentenced a person to death for the trafficking and possession of heroin.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER IN MORATUWA
The Panadura High Court on 3 September 2019 sentenced to death three persons who were found guilty over hacking to death of a person in 2009 at Egoda Uyana Junction in Moratuwa.
- JULY 31, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: HEROIN SMUGGLER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY COLOMBO HIGH COURT
The Colombo High Court on 30 July 2019 sentenced a heroin smuggler to death. The suspect is Jesmin Rizwan, a resident of Maligawatta.
JULY 23, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A suspect that was convicted of heroin racketeering charges was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on 18 July 2019.
JULY 15, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: GOVT. FAST-TRACKS MOVES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
The Government on 12 July 2019 fast tracked its move to have the death penalty abolished in the country by having a private members bill published in the Gazette hours after a motion to this effect was tabled in the House.
JULY 8, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: SUPREME COURT ISSUES INTERIM INJUNCTION ON IMPLEMENTING DEATH PENALTY UNTIL OCTOBER 30
Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on 5 July 2019 issued an interim order staying the implementation of the death penalty until October 30.
JULY 3, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: CARRYING OUT DEATH PENALTY WILL CAUSE LOSS OF GSP+ SAYS JVP
President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to carry out the death penalty will lead Sri Lanka to lose GSP+ benefits received from the European Union as well as set the stage for an anti-Sri Lanka campaigns across the world, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (J
JULY 2, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE AND HIS PARTY OPPOSE REINSTATING DEATH PENALTY
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on 30 June 2019 he and the United National Party (UNP) do not agree to implementing the death penalty ending a 43-year moratorium and many political parties including the opposition are against it.
- JULY 1, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
EU SAYS PLANNED SRI LANKA EXECUTIONS CONTRADICT COMMITMENTS
The European Union on 27 June 2019 criticized Sri Lanka’s move to resume executions, saying it would directly contradict the country’s commitment to maintain a 43-year moratorium on death penalty at the U.N. General Assembly last year.
- JULY 1, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA HIRES FIRST TWO HANGMEN IN 43 YEARS
Sri Lanka has recruited two hangmen as it prepares to carry out four executions - the first in 43 years.
- JUNE 27, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT SIGNS FOUR DEATH SENTENCES FOR DRUG CRIMES
Sri Lanka's president on 26 June 2019 signed death sentences for four people convicted of drug-related offences.
- JUNE 25, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: 3 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 28 YEAR OLD MURDER
Colombo High Court Judge Sampath Wijeratne issued the death penalty for three defendants who were accused of several cases including the murder of an individual with the use of sharp objects
JUNE 21, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FATHER OF THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER POSSESSION OF HEROIN
A father of three has been sentenced to death over the possession of heroin, as per the order of the Colombo High Court.
- APRIL 30, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH
Two suspects convicted for murder were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on 30 April 2019.
MARCH 4, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FATHER OF THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Colombo High Court judge Shashi Mahendran on 11 February 2019 sentenced a man to death over a murder committed in 2000.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DRUG PEDDLER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A defendant found guilty for two indictments, possession of 24 grams of heroin and peddling drugs, was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on 31 January 2019.
- JANUARY 25, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT SIRISENA REITERATES DECISION TO IMPOSE DEATH PENALTY ON DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has reiterated the government's decision to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers, a government statement said on 23 January 2019.
- JANUARY 17, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER SIX MURDERS IN 1999
Two persons on 10 January 2019 were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court after being found guilty of murdering six persons.
- JANUARY 1, 2019Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
DECEMBER 31, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: 1, 299 ON DEATH-ROW IN PRISONS
A total of 1, 299 death row inmates, including inmates who had appealed against their sentence, have been detained in Sri Lankan prisons as of 31 December 2018, the Ministry of Justice and Prisons Reforms said on 9 January 2019.
- NOVEMBER 15, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TWO TO HANG FOR MURDER
Two suspects who were convicted of stabbing an individual in Kalawanchikudi to death were sentenced to death after a prolonged trial by the Batticaloa High Court on 30 October 2018.
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: YOUTH SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR POSSESSION OF HEROIN
A youth who had been convicted for trading heroin and possession of 9 grams of heroin was sentenced to death on September 26 by the Colombo High Court.
- AUGUST 8, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TWO MURDER-CONVICTED ARMY OFFICERS GIVEN DEATH PENALTY
Two former Army officers have been sentenced to death by the Trincomalee High Court for assaulting and murdering an individual from Gurunagar area in Jaffna after taking him in for interrogations, says Ada Derana reporter.
- JULY 30, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR POSSESSING HEROIN
Two men who were found guilty of keeping 2.8 grams of heroin in their possession were sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga.
JULY 18, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: TWO CONVICTED MURDERERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Two persons received death penalty by the Colombo High Court for an incident of a person was shot dead in Borella.
- JULY 17, 2018Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY COLOMBO HC
Three individuals were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court for a murder committed 26 years ago, in Pannipitiya.