A Sri Lankan man has been sentenced to a life term in jail by an Australian court for bashing his wife to death with a hammer in a jealous rage.

Sampathawaduge Eustace Sudath Silva, 51, was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years behind bars after admitting to killing his wife Kurukulasuriya in Perth in February 2012.

Silva wept as West Australian Supreme Court Justice Lindy Jenkins said while he had been a devoted father, he had been a jealous and controlling husband.

Justice Jenkins said he was lucky to still have the love and support of his two daughters Amali and Pavithra, who had written to the court to support their father despite his admission of murder.

``I cannot place great weight on their desires because of the seriousness of your offending,’’ Justice Jenkins was quoted as saying by AAP.

``They love you very much and are lost without your protection and support.’’

The court heard the Sri Lankan couple moved to Australia in 2005, but their marriage had been beset by difficulties including bouts of domestic violence.

That culminated in his wife having an affair with a work colleague in 2010, which prompted Silva to hire a private investigator to spy on her, and monitor her phone calls.

While she gave up her lover, Mrs Silva was also forced by her husband to give up her work, but his jealousy did not abate.

A trial of issues last month heard Silva had bought a heavy hammer the day before the murder, which he claimed was for building a pot plant stand.

Instead, during an argument, he hit his wife over the head three times, fracturing her skull.

Forensic evidence showed her body had been dragged through the Willetton house before emergency services arrived.

They were alerted by a phone call from Silva, in which he admitted: ``We had an argument and she got killed by me.’’

Both Silva’s daughters declined to comment as they left court, AAP reported.