Death sentence for Duminda Silva!
Duminda Silva and 4 others who were found guilty in the Bharatha Lakshman murder were decided by courts to sentence them to death with the verdict being pronounced today.
Though 4 of the convicts who were imposd the death sentence were present in courts today, one
defendant had disappeared. According to the judgment of this case former parliamentarian Duminda de Silva, Anura Thushara de Mel, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath, Janaka Bandara Galagoda and Sarath Bandara were issued the death sentence. Though the Chairman of the trial-at-bar, only Judge Mr. Shiran Gunaratna made a suggestion that the accused were not guilty and to set them free, according to the opinion of the other two (which then amounted to a two-third majority), this decision was enforced. Judges Pathmini N. Ranawaka and M.B.S. Moreis pronounced their judgment saying that 5 suspects including Duminda Silva were responsible for the murder of Bharatha and also were guilty of a number of allegations including unlawful assembly to which too they have been found guilty. Under those conditions all five of them were sentenced to life imprisonment by the two High Court Judges.--------------------- previous news item ----------------------
11.50 a.m.
Will Duminda be found guilty? Verdict in a short while
The incident of 5 persons including Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra being shot dead in Kolonnawa turned into a sensational case and was being heard during the last one and a half years. The final judgment in this connection is to be pronounced today. By now a crowd accompanying Duminda Silva and a crowd accompanying Hirunika Premachandra are present in courts today. 11 persons including former parliamentarian Duminda Silva who are the respondents in this case have been subjected to the allegation of the crime of homicide. The case is being heard in the presence of a Bench of Judges comprising Shiran Gunaratna (President), Pathmini Ranawaka and C.B.N. Moreis.
On October 8th, 2011 the murder of Mr. Bharatha Lakshman and 4 others were committed. On the said date a local government election was being held and they had died as a consequence of a shoot out which took place at Walpola Junction. Later, the former MP Duminda Silva had been under treatment both in Sri Lanka and in overseas hospitals for a long period of time for injuries sustained during the exchange of gun shots during the shoot out. As the final verdict would be announced today, special precautionary measures have been taken in the environs of Colombo Magistrate Courts.