A High Court in Galle, Sri Lanka, has sentenced a father and son to lengthy terms of rigorous imprisonment after finding them guilty of the brutal rape of a 20-year-old woman in a case that has drawn attention to sexual violence and delayed justice. The verdict was delivered by High Court Judge Purnima Paranagama, who also imposed fines and ordered substantial compensation to be paid to the victim.
The first accused, the victim’s brother-in-law, was handed a 20-year prison sentence along with a fine of Rs. 15,000 and ordered to pay Rs. 500,000 in compensation. The court took into account his prior conviction for attempted murder, for which he had received a suspended sentence. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three months in prison, while failure to pay compensation will add six more months to his sentence.
The second accused, the father of the first accused, was sentenced to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment, fined Rs. 10,000, and similarly ordered to pay Rs. 500,000 as compensation. If he defaults on the fine, he faces an additional two months in prison, and failure to pay compensation will result in a further six months of imprisonment.
The court heard that the crime occurred between May 1 and May 31, 2014, when the victim was lured into the house shared by the two men. According to evidence presented, the first accused gave the victim money to purchase household items. Upon her return, while she was placing the items inside the house, he allegedly covered her mouth, dragged her into a room, tied her hands, threatened to kill her, and raped her. The father then also sexually assaulted her.
The victim, paralyzed by fear, did not immediately report the crime. The case came to light only after she was found to be pregnant following a medical examination prompted by missed menstrual cycles. An anonymous complaint later reached the Children and Women’s Bureau of the Galle Police, which led to further investigation by the Habaraduwa Police.
The victim gave birth to a child on February 12, 2015, at Balapitiya Hospital. The prosecution was led by State Attorney Ravidu Jayakody, with assistance from police officers involved in the investigation. The case underscores the challenges victims face in reporting sexual violence and the long path to justice in such cases.
