The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeals filed by former MP Duminda Silva and two others against their death penalty over the murder of former presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.
However, the court acquitted another accused, the police officer assigned to Duminda Silva’s security, Anura Thushara de Mel, from the case.
Five persons including former MP Bharatha Lakashman Premachandra were killed in a shooting incidnet which took place in Mulleriyawa on October 08, 2011 on the day of the Provincial Council elections, while Silva had sustained injuries.
Duminda Silva and four others were found guilty and sentenced to death by the Colombo high Court by a majority decision on September 8, 2016.
Four of them including former MP Duminda Silva, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath alias ‘Dematagoda Chaminda’, Sarath Bandara and Anura Thushara de Mel had filed appeals before the Supreme Court challenging their sentences.
On July 25, the Supreme Court five-judge-Bench comprising Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, Justice Buwaneka Aluvihare and Justice Prasanna Jayawardena, Justice Nalin Perera and Justice Vijith Malalgoda reserved judgement in the appeal and all parties had been directed to file their written submissions on August 10.
The five-member Supreme Court judge bench today (11) delivered its verdict, which was reached unanimously.
