The State v. Yahalawatte Wilbert Madawatte – 241/2013-2017

In The Hon. Attorney General v. Yahalawatte Wilbert Madawatte, the court addressed whether the sentence imposed by the High Court for statutory rape under section 365B of the Penal Code was inadequate and illegal, warranting enhancement upon appeal, and whether the appeal against the sentence was filed within the statutory time frame. It was held that the original sentence failed to meet the statutory minimum and did not reflect the gravity of the offence, especially given the victim’s vulnerability and the legislative intent to protect children. The court enhanced the sentence to the statutory minimum of seven years rigorous imprisonment, with higher fines and compensation, reaffirming the principle that offences against children require stringent custodial penalties. The decision relied