L.G. Indika Rathnasiri Heenapalla v. Hon. Attorney General – CA 101/2016-2016

In the case between L.G. Indika Rathnasiri (Appellant/Defendant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondent/Plaintiff), the court addressed the issue of whether the sentence for a conviction of culpable homicide not amounting to murder should be varied on appeal when the conviction itself is uncontested. It was determined that, after hearing both parties and considering the prosecution’s lack of objection to varying the sentence, the prison term imposed should be reduced from ten to eight years while maintaining the fine and default term. This holding reaffirms the principle that appellate courts have the authority to revisit and adjust sentences where appropriate, consistent with principles under Section 297 of the Penal Code and relevant appellate standards. The case underscores the court