Kaleha Hettiarachchige Rumesh Madusanka Hettiarachchi vs. The Attorney General – CA HCC 209/2024-2025

In the case between Kaleha Hettiarachchige Rumesh (Accused-Appellant) and The Attorney General’s Department, Colombo-12 (Complainant-Respondent), the court considered whether the statutorily prescribed minimum sentence for statutory rape must be imposed in light of the particular familial and social circumstances of the appellant and victim. It was held that, while the gravity of the offense is recognized, the unique background—including the established prior romantic relationship, subsequent marriage of both parties to others, and the presence of children—justified a reduction of the sentence imposed by the High Court. The holding reaffirmed that sentencing discretion, as outlined in Supreme Court determination No.03/2008, may be exercised to avoid unjust consequences, provided the court