Landegedara Ranjith Siriwardena alias Podi Malli vs. Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/141/2018-2021

In the case between The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (as represented by the Hon. Attorney General) and Landegedara Ranjith Siriwardena alias Podi Malli, the court addressed the issue of sentencing disparity among co-accused convicted of related offences arising from the same incident, specifically under section 317 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon. It was held that the imposition of a significantly harsher sentence on the accused-appellant, who pleaded not guilty and stood trial, was inappropriate when co-accused who pleaded guilty to more serious charges received substantially lighter and suspended sentences. The principle reaffirmed is that an accused should not be penalized through sentencing for exercising the right to a tria