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
MARCH 15, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER A’PURA MURDER
A person found guilty regarding a murder which had taken place in Shrawasthipura, Anuradhapura in
- MARCH 12, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: LAWYER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR COLD-BLOODED MURDER OF WIFE
The Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction of an attorney-at-law for the murder of his wife and the
MARCH 11, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: NEW HANGMAN GETS DISTRESSED AFTER SEEING GALLOWS AND QUIT
the Commissioner General of Prisons said Sri Lanka's efforts to shorten the waiting time for death row
- FEBRUARY 25, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR FATHER AND TWO SONS IN AKURESSA
The Matara High Court sentenced a father and his two sons of Dediyagala in Akuressa to death.
- FEBRUARY 7, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
the Trincomalee High Court sentenced Thangarajah Sivakantharajah to death for a bomb blast that had
the Trincomalee High Court sentenced Thangarajah Sivakantharajah to death for a bomb blast that had
- FEBRUARY 2, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW MAY BE FREED
A committee has been appointed in Sri Lanka to make recommendations to free prisoners who have been
- JANUARY 22, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: SRI LANKAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER
A Sri Lankan man has been executed by firing squad in the UAE emirate of Sharjah for murdering an
- JANUARY 1, 2014Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
- OCTOBER 29, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
the Kegalle Provincial High Court, in Sri Lanka
the Kegalle Provincial High Court, in Sri Lanka
- OCTOBER 22, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: DEATH SENTENCE AFFIRMED IN ROYAL PARK MURDER
In Sri Lanka, the appeal against the conviction of death sentence on Shramantha Jayamaha
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: HUSBAND SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Sri Lanka, a man was sentenced to death by the Panadura Magistrate for murdering his
JULY 28, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: PRESIDENT TO PARDON ELDERLY CONDEMNED PRISONERS
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Minister of Prisons Rehabilitation
- JUNE 5, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
the Mawanella PS Chairman K.G Piyathissa was sentenced to death
the Mawanella PS Chairman K.G Piyathissa was sentenced to death
APRIL 25, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: CALL TO RESOLVE FATE OF 461 SRI LANKA DEATH ROW INMATES
New Sri Lankan prisons chief C Pallegama said he wants to resolve the status of 461 death
- APRIL 4, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: MAN OWNED 2.4 G HEROIN SENTENCED TO DEATH
A Court in Sri Lanka issued death sentence against suspect owned 2.4 g heroin with
MARCH 14, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 1999 MURDER
in Sri Lanka, the Monaragala High Court sentenced to death 5 people over a shooting incident
FEBRUARY 27, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FIVE MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Five men who stood indicted on charges of having murdered a 65-year-old resident of Walakumburegama
- FEBRUARY 13, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
in Sri Lanka, Kalmunai High Court Judge P. Swarnaraj
in Sri Lanka, Kalmunai High Court Judge P. Swarnaraj
- JANUARY 24, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka will gradually stop allowing women going to Saudi Arabia
Sri Lanka will gradually stop allowing women going to Saudi Arabia
- JANUARY 18, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
The mother of a Sri Lankan maid beheaded in Saudi Arabia for murder has rejected offers of cash from
The mother of a Sri Lankan maid beheaded in Saudi Arabia for murder has rejected offers of cash from
JANUARY 14, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYQATAR: SRI LANKAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
A Sri Lankan has been sentenced to death by a court in Qatar after he was found guilty of
- JANUARY 10, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia...
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia...
- JANUARY 10, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia after the execution
Sri Lanka recalled its envoy to Saudi Arabia after the execution
- JANUARY 9, 2013Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA: SRI LANKAN MAID RIZANA NAFEEK EXECUTED
Saudi Arabia has executed a Sri Lankan domestic worker for killing a baby in her care in 2005, a foreign ministry official in Colombo has told the BBC.
- JANUARY 2, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
SRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT UNDECIDED ON IMPLEMENTING DEATH PENALTY
The Sri Lankan government said it has not yet taken a policy decision on the implementation
- JANUARY 1, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
- DECEMBER 31, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
a 21-year-old Sri Lankan expatriate, identified as Venkadasalam Sudeshkar...
a 21-year-old Sri Lankan expatriate, identified as Venkadasalam Sudeshkar...
- DECEMBER 13, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
four brothers found guilty of committing the murder of a Police...
four brothers found guilty of committing the murder of a Police...
- DECEMBER 6, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
UAE: MAN EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD IN ABU DHABI FOR MURDER
A man was executed by firing squad in Abu Dhabi after being convicted of murdering an
OCTOBER 11, 2012Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: REPORT ON 200 DEATH ROW PRISONERS TO PRESIDENT
Sri Lanka Minister of Justice Rauf Hakeem said today that the Ministry of Justice