Imbulamure Sumangala Thero vs Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC 0335/2018-2023

In the case between Imbulamure Sumangala Thero (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondent-Respondent), the court addressed the issue of whether the original sentence imposed for two charges of grave sexual abuse should be varied in light of a significant lapse in time between the commission of the offense (2006) and the conclusion of the trial (2018). It was held that the sentence ought to be reduced to 8 years rigorous imprisonment (to be served concurrently), while the fines and compensation were to remain unchanged, and the appeal was dismissed subject to this variation. The decision reaffirmed the principle that the proportionality of sentence in relation to the seriousness of the offense, coupled with the impact of extraordinary delays in the judicial process, must