Liyana Mendis Gunadasa et al. vs Hon. Attorney General – CA 141/2006-2014

In the case between Liyana Mendis Gunadasa, Liyana Mendis Premadasa, and Liyana Mendis Ariyadasa (Accused-Appellants) and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondent), the court addressed the appropriateness of custodial sentences for attempted murder in the context of an extraordinary delay of approximately 30 years from offence to final appeal. It was held that inordinate delay constitutes a substantial mitigatory factor justifying the reduction and suspension of custodial sentences, provided the delay is not attributable to the accused. The principle reaffirmed is that justice delayed to such an extent undermines the legitimacy and fairness of continued incarceration. Precedents such as Karunaratne v. The State and Ananda v. Attorney General supported this approach. The judgment emphasized th