18 years imprisonment for killer of Sri Lankan President’s brother

01/12/2017

A Sri Lankan court has sentenced the accused in the murder of Sri Lankan President’s brother in 2015 to 18 years of rigorous imprisonment, the Colombo Page reported

Polonnaruwa High Court Judge Nimal Ranaweera on Thursday sentenced the accused Haputhanthrige Don Ishan Lakmal, who has been found guilty of killing President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother Pallewatte Gamaralalage Priyantha Sirisena, to 18 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The court also directed the accused, a resident of Hathara Ela in New Town, Polonnaruwa to pay Rs 1 million as compensation to the family of Priyantha Sirisena and a fine of Rs. 20,000.

The accused will be sentenced to another two years of rigorous imprisonment in case of his failure to pay compensation and six months in prison if he does not pay the fine.

The Attorney General had filed the case against the accused of attacking Priyantha Sirisena with an axe on 26 March 2015 resulting in his death.

The accused had attacked Priyantha, 42, with an axe on the back of his head. Priyantha Sirisena succumbed to his injuries a day later while being treated at the intensive care unit at Colombo National Hospital.

The accused later surrendered to the police. On interrogation by the police, the suspect has said that he was angry at the deceased for yelling at his parents using foul language.