The Republic vs Yahalawatte Wilbert – SC APPEAL NO. 239/2017-2022

In the case between The Republic and the Attorney General (Complainant) and Yahalawatte Wilbert (Defendant), the court addressed whether the sentence imposed by the High Court and subsequently enhanced by the Court of Appeal was illegal and/or inadequate, as well as whether the appeal to the Court of Appeal was timely under the Criminal Procedure Act. It was held that the initial High Court sentence was overly lenient in light of the serious nature of the offence and the compelling weight of public interest. The court affirmed the Court of Appeal’s enhancement of the sentence, emphasizing that the gravity of sexual offences against minors outweighs individual mitigating factors such as age, health, and the absence of violence. This decision relied on established precedent reinforcing the p