Schoolgirl rape case :

Accused get RI and fine

Kapila Somaratne Panadura group corr.

Panadura Provincial High Court Judge Malanee Gunaratne sentenced each accused in the Ingiriya schoolgirl rape case to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 10,000 and in default, six months imprisonment.

The Judge also ordered each accused to pay Rs. 100,000 to the girl and in default two years rigorous imprisonment on each accused. The accused are Palathotage Thilakaratne, and Gayan S. Nandena, the driver and conductor of a private coach in Ingiriya.

They were indicted with committing rape on a 14 year old schoolgirl inside the private coach on November 2, 2001 at Handapangoda. Senior State Counsel Chamath Dileepa prosecuted.