Jail Term Reduced for Couple Convicted of Involving Russian Woman in Prostitution

25-Sep-2026

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The Court of Appeal has reduced from seven years to four years the prison sentence imposed on a couple convicted of bringing a Russian woman into Sri Lanka and involving her in prostitution and related activities, taking into consideration the circumstances of their children.

A two-member bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justices P. Kumararatnam and Pradeep Hettiarachchi delivered the ruling after considering the appeal filed by the husband and wife challenging the judgment of the Colombo High Court.

The couple were convicted of deceiving the Russian woman into coming to Sri Lanka between 2019 and 2020 and involving her in prostitution and encouraging her to engage in such activities. The Colombo High Court subsequently sentenced them to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed fines on three counts.

During the proceedings before the Court of Appeal, counsel appearing for the appellants pointed out that their children had been left without proper care as a result of the appellants being imprisoned.

Counsel further informed the Court that the seven-year-old daughter of the first accused woman had been placed in a children's home, while the second accused, who had worked as a three-wheeler driver, had been the family's sole income earner. It was also submitted that the mother of the second accused and his sister, who was studying at a university, were facing severe difficulties.

The Deputy Solicitor General also informed the Court that, in view of the difficult circumstances faced by the appellants’ children, it would be appropriate to reconsider the prison sentence.

Having considered the evidence presented by both parties, the Court reduced the prison sentence imposed on the appellants to four years of rigorous imprisonment. However, there was no change to the fines and compensation orders imposed by the High Court.