General

Twelve people have received death sentences for the murder of former Polonnaruwa District Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer in 2022. The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar announced the sentences after a long hearing. Additionally, four others were given six-month sentences, which are suspended for five years. The court also acquitted 23 other defendants in the case. This morning, the suspects involved in the assault and killings were brought before the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar. On January 14, the court had postponed the verdict announcement in the murder case of ex-MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala until today. Athukorala and his security officer, a Police Constable, were reported dead during the violence in the Nittambuwa area amid nationwide unrest on May 9, 2022. That evening, there was a shooting in Nittambuwa, and six injured individuals were taken to Wathupitiwala Base Hospital. Hospital officials later reported that three of them had gunshot wounds, and a 27-year-old in critical condition eventually died from his injuries.