A 20-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, while three juveniles received suspended sentences for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in a village in October 2024.
In sentencing the man and the three juveniles on October 9, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe described the offences as extremely serious, highlighting the sexual exploitation of a young woman by a group of young men.
The court heard that the victim was walking alone to her aunt’s home when the four offenders used physical force to sexually assault her.
Justice Rajasinghe said the attack had significantly affected the victim’s emotional and psychological wellbeing and shattered her self-confidence.
The man received a seven-year aggregate sentence with a five-year non-parole period. After accounting for two months spent in remand, his remaining sentence is six years and 10 months, with a non-parole period of four years and 10 months.
The three juveniles were each sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years, with Justice Rajasinghe noting that the Juvenile Act limited their imprisonment to a maximum of two years.
Their fathers were ordered to sign five-year good behaviour bonds, while the juveniles were placed under community-based correction orders for three years.
They must also undergo counselling and report to their designated community-based correction officers at least once a month.
The juveniles’ progress will be reviewed by the High Court on March 11, 2027.
