Sri Lanka, Nov. 21 -- The Court of Appeal today upheld the death sentences imposed on five individuals convicted of trafficking 151.341 kilograms of heroin in 2019, a consignment that was at the time the largest narcotic stock ever detected by the Sri Lanka Navy.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Pradeep Hettiaratchchi, with Justice P. Kumararatnam agreeing, affirmed the judgment delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle on September 27, 2023. The High Court had found all five accused guilty on all three counts in the indictment and imposed the death sentence for each count.

The convicts Chaminda Rohana Fernando, Anton Chrisantha Fernando, Dulag Ravindra Perera, Liyanadurage Surange and Tharindu Jayantha Fernando, all resid...