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
- 357
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 357 news items on Sri Lanka, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
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 PENALTYSRI 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 4, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: HRC RECOMMENDS ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY
The Human Rights Commission in a letter to the President recommended the abolition of the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
NOVEMBER 26, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Colombo High Courts have issued the death sentence to two individuals from the same family.
- OCTOBER 21, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE PERSONS GET DEATH SENTENCE OVER MURDER
Three persons including two brothers convicted over a murder in Kehelwatta, Kapuhena were sentenced to
OCTOBER 14, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: WELE SUDA SENTENCED TO DEATH IN HEROIN CASE
Notorious drug dealer Wele Suda was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court for having drugs in
- OCTOBER 14, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: NEW HANGMEN HIRED FOR 'LIGHT ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY'
Sri Lanka says it has hired two new executioners to replace the previous hangman, who quit shortly after seeing the gallows for the first time.
OCTOBER 6, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA WILL NOT IMPLEMENT DEATH PENALTY FOR NOW - JUSTICE MINISTER
Sri Lanka will not implement the death penalty temporarily as the country has decided to vote in favor of a UN resolution for moratorium on death penalty in 2015, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha said in parliament.
- JULY 2, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH IN JAFFNA
Jaffna High Court has sentenced three individuals to death, Police Media Unit said.
- MAY 14, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Four persons found guilty of a murder reported in 2000 have been sentenced to death in Sri Lanka.
- APRIL 29, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER IN 2000
Two persons found guilty over a murder carried out in the Hingurakgoda area in 2000 have been sentenced to death by the Polonnaruwa High Court.
- MARCH 26, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR HEROIN POSSESSION
A person found guilty for the possession of 303.5 grams of heroin was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court today.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: 42-YEAR-OLD MAN GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE OVER 2007 MURDER CASE
A 42-year-old person convicted of committing a murder in 2007 was sentenced to death in Sri Lanka by
FEBRUARY 3, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: JUSTICE MINISTER, READY TO IMPLEMENT DEATH SENTENCE
- JANUARY 23, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: 3 SRI LANKANS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Three Sri Lankans have been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for breaking into a house while murdering
- JANUARY 21, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: RATNAPURA HIGH COURT SENTENCES THREE INDIVIDUALS TO DEATH
The Ratnapura High Court has handed death sentences to three suspects who were found guilty of
- JANUARY 1, 2015Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
NOVEMBER 19, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA PARDONS INDIAN FISHERMEN ON DEATH ROW
Five Indian fishermen condemned to death for smuggling drugs into Sri Lanka will walk free after President
- NOVEMBER 10, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: THREE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH 19 YEARS AFTER MURDER
Three persons found guilty in Sri Lanka of committing murder 19 years ago in the Sethapola area in
OCTOBER 30, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: DEATH FOR FIVE INDIAN FISHERMEN
The Colombo High Court awarded the death sentence to five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the Sri
SEPTEMBER 9, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: PAKISTANI CHRISTIANS DEPORTED DESPITE POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE
United Nations officials said Sri Lanka has begun sending Pakistani asylum seekers, including Christians,
- SEPTEMBER 3, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DOCTOR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF A GARMENT FACTORY WORKER
A Sri Lankan court sentenced a medical doctor to death for the rape and murder of a young garment
- JULY 31, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: 8 PERSONS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY PANADURA AND RATNAPURA HIGH COURTS
in Sri Lanka, 8 persons were sentenced to death in two different cases.
- JULY 30, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MONERAGALA HC HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCE
An individual who had sexually abused and killed a six year old boy was handed the death
- JULY 24, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: 4 INDIVIDUALS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY THE KANDY HIGH COURT
4 individuals who were found guilty in connection to a murder were sentenced to death by the Kandy High
JULY 16, 2014UkraineDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FOREIGN COUPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The Colombo High Court sentenced to death a Ukrainian couple found guilty of a double murder committed
- JULY 15, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: 5 SENTENCED TO DEATH BY NUWARA ELIYA HIGH COURT
Five suspects who were found guilty of murdering a security guard were given death sentence by the
JULY 10, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: HRC RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT TO COMMUTE DEATH SENTENCES
The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has recommended the government to commute the death
- JULY 3, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: 6 SENTENCED TO DEATH FROM TANGALLE AND KALUTHARA
The Kaluthara and Tangalle High courts passed death penalties on 6 individuals today who were found