Ranathunga Arachchilage Ranjith Chandrathilake v. The Attorney General – 134/2019-2019

In the case between The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (represented by the Attorney General’s Department) and Ranathunga Arachchilage Ranjith Chandrathilake, the court addressed the issue of whether the sentence imposed for dealing in stolen state property was excessive, considering the accused’s mitigating circumstances as a government employee. It was held that the sentence of five years’ rigorous imprisonment was reasonable and that mitigating factors such as “first offender” status did not warrant a reduction in sentence, given the seriousness of the offence involving public property. The decision reaffirmed the principle that public officers bear a heightened responsibility regarding state property, with reference to the Offences against Public Property Act and related leg