Nuwan Buddhika Abeysinghe v. The Attorney General – CA 90/2011-2011

In the case between Nuwan Buddhika Abeysinghe (Accused-Appellant) and the Attorney General (Respondent), the court addressed the issue of the appropriateness of the sentence imposed for three counts of rape involving an 8-year-old victim. It was held that the sentence of 10 years rigorous imprisonment was appropriate as it represented the minimum mandatory sentence. However, the compensation ordered was reduced to a reasonable amount the accused could pay, thereby ensuring the victim’s benefit. The principle reaffirmed was that sentencing should adhere to statutory minimums, but compensation must be reasonable and realistically payable. Reliance was placed on statutory sentencing guidelines for rape offenses, with particular emphasis placed on ensuring both legal compliance and practical e