Kurugamage Lalith Priyadarshana alias Chaminda vs. Hon. Attorney-General – CA/HCC/128/2024-2025

In the case between The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Attorney-General’s Department as respondent) and Kurugamage Lalith Priyadarshana alias Chaminda, the court addressed the issue of the sufficiency of the sentencing rationale in a rape conviction, specifically regarding whether the aggravating and mitigatory factors were appropriately considered by the trial judge. It was held that the earlier sentence of 18 years’ rigorous imprisonment was imposed without adequate explanation or weighing of relevant factors, necessitating the reduction of the sentence to 10 years while keeping fines and compensation unchanged. The judgment reaffirms the principle that sentencing must be supported by reasoned analysis in accordance with sentencing guidelines and judicial discretion. This de