Politics

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, the former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, has asked the President to pardon those sentenced to death for the murder of former MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his bodyguard. He made this appeal during a media briefing in Colombo. Fonseka pointed out that the President could easily lift the death sentences with a simple decision. He stated, “Pardon the young people who were given the death penalty for Amarakeerthi's murder. The President can do this with just one stroke of the pen.” On February 11, a special three-judge panel at the Gampaha High Court sentenced 12 people to death after they were found guilty of killing Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer.