Tennekoon Mudiyanselage Karunarathne vs Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0063/2023-2024

The case between the Attorney General’s Department (represented by the Attorney-General, Colombo 12) and Tennekoon Mudiyanselage Karunarathne concerned the appropriateness of the maximum sentence imposed for attempted murder under the Penal Code. The court determined that while serious aggravating circumstances existed, such as the severity and number of injuries and the lack of remorse, mitigating factors including the appellant’s age, lack of prior convictions, and procedural delay merited consideration. The sentence of twenty years of rigorous imprisonment was adjudged excessive, prompting a reduction to fourteen years, with a corresponding reduction in the compensation order. The holding reaffirmed the principle of proportionality in sentencing, emphasizing a balanced judicial approach