Death penalty affirmed in heroin case heard by present CJ as High Court Judge

17 March 2026 05:07 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 3 Bookmark

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Colombo, March 17 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court today affirmed the death sentence imposed on an accused by the Colombo High Court in 2013 for possession and trafficking of 34.32 grams of heroin.

It was revealed that the judgment relating to the conviction and death sentence of this accused had been delivered by the present Chief Justice, Preethi Padman Surasena, when he was serving as a High Court judge in 2013.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe, with Justice Yasantha Kodagoda and Justice Janak De Silva agreeing, also affirmed the Court of Appeal judgment, which dismissed the appeal filed by the accused against the High Court judgment.

The accused Preethi Anton was indicted before the High Court of Colombo along with another accused and they were found guilty of possession and trafficking of 34.32 grams of heroin, which are punishable under Section 54 A (b) and 54 A(d) of the Poison, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act.

After the trial, the two accused were found guilty and sentenced to death.

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, citing that there exists no material contradiction undermining the substratum of the prosecution case. The Court further held there is no failure of heightened scrutiny and no improper rejection of the defence.

Kapila Waidyaratne, PC appeared for the accused. Additional Solicitor General Lakmali Karunanayake, PC appeared for the Attorney General.

Comments - 3

Danny Tuesday, 17 March 2026 05:16 PM

35g? My lords, there are big death merchants transporting in tons. Will they get what they deserve?

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Wagner i Tuesday, 17 March 2026 05:34 PM

Very good they also should impose the death penalty on the crew and owner ifthe fishing trawlars are found smuggling in drugs

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Ram P Wednesday, 18 March 2026 07:56 AM

Death Penalty is a joke as it is not implemented. Death Penalty is life in Prison and we the people pay for the prisoners maintenance. Prisoner has a safe sound life in Prison for the rest of his life. Instead of Death Penalty if sentenced for 30 years with hard labour at least the prisoner will pay us back in a small way. In drug cases if convicted all the assets must be confiscated to reduce the strain on the public purse.

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