Dasanayaka Mudiyanselage Gunerathne Bibila v. Hon. Attorney General – CA 243/2012-2012

In the case between Dasanayaka Mudiyanselage Gunerathne (Bibila) and the Hon. Attorney General, the court examined whether the sentence imposed by the High Court for causing grievous hurt should be upheld or altered in view of significant compensation already paid by the accused-appellant to the victim. It was held that the original sentence of five years’ rigorous imprisonment would be set aside and replaced with a term of two years’ rigorous imprisonment, suspended for five years, while the fine and compensation amounts were affirmed. The appeal was dismissed subject to this variation. This decision reaffirmed the principle that payment of substantial compensation and absence of prosecutorial objection may justify the suspension of custodial sentences, in line with judicial discretion un