Kodituwakkulage Pradeep Samantha alias Fredie vs Hon. Attorney General – SC APPEAL NO.139/2014-2018

In the case between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Complainant/Respondent) and Panangalage Don Nilanka & Kodituwakkulage Pradeep Samantha alias Fredie (Accused-Appellants), the Supreme Court addressed whether the imposition of the death sentence and its subsequent substitution with life imprisonment conformed to Section 281 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act as amended, together with Section 53 of the Penal Code. It was determined that sentencing must be based on the age of the accused at the time of sentencing, not at the time of the offence, and that the High Court Judge did not err in imposing a death sentence where the accused was over 18 at sentencing. The Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s substitution of life imprisonment for the death penalty, confirming