Bandage Sumindra Jayanthi vs Hon. Attorney General – CA 251/12-2015

In the case between the Republic of Sri Lanka (Hon. Attorney General) and Bandage Sumindra Jayanthi, the court addressed the issue of the appropriateness and proportionality of the sentence imposed on the accused-appellant following a guilty plea to multiple counts of criminal misappropriation under Section 386 of the Penal Code. It was held that the original sentencing—comprising an aggregate of 84 months’ rigorous imprisonment (6 months per count for 14 indictments, to run concurrently per indictment) and fines—was not manifestly excessive, and the High Court had acted within its discretion in balancing aggravating and mitigating factors. The principle reaffirmed is that, even in cases involving late restitution and guilty plea, sentencing discretion must align with the gravity, multipli