Death sentence to Welikada murder convicts

Sandasen MARASINGHE

COLOMBO: Two persons were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court after being convicted for a murder at Welikada, in 1998.

Colombo High Court Judge W.T.M.P.B. Warawewa convicted Siriwardana Arachchige Parakrama and Molligoda Liyanaarachchige Manoj Gunawardana for the murder of Niroshan Nadeeth Rampika on June 11, 1998.

Dodam Palalage Udaya Manjula and the two convicts were indicted for abducting Rampika at Welikada on June 11, 1998 and murdering with a knife. Rampika’s body was later found abandoned at the Borella cemetery.

The Court acquitted Manjula on two counts observing that charges against him could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The Court convicted the other two accused for abducting Rampika and sentenced each to seven and a half year Rigorous Imprisonment (RI).

The Court also imposed a Rs. 2,000 fine on each convict and another one year RI in default.

It was revealed that the convicts abducted Rampika and committed the murder on the instructions of a person named Christopher.

State Counsel Thusith Mudalige appeared for the prosecution and Attorney Suranga Bandara appeared for the third accused Udaya Manjula.