The State vs Karunanayake Pathirennehelage Sunil Wickramaratne alias Nilame – CA HCC/0058/2018-2023

In the case between The Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo-12 (Complainant-Respondent) and Karunanayake Pathirennehelage Sunil Wickramaratne alias Nilame (Accused-Appellant), the court addressed the propriety of the original sentence imposed for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 297 of the Penal Code, specifically considering the significance of intoxication evidence. The court determined that the sentence of 12 years’ rigorous imprisonment was excessive in light of the circumstances, particularly the admitted intoxication and the context of the incident. The judgment revised the operative sentence to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment, a fine of Rs.1000, and a six-month default term, effective from 22/03/2018, reaffirming that sentencing under