Dhammika Amarasinghe murder:

Death sentence for accused

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The Colombo High Court yesterday imposed the death sentence on the accused in the Dhammika Amarasinghe murder which was committed in the Colombo Hulftsdorp Magistrate Court premises on January 9, 2004.

Colombo High Court Judge W.T.M.P.B. Warawewa sentenced Siriwardanage Chaminda Udaya Kumara after he was convicted of the crime. The Court found him guilty of all the five charges in the indictment filed by the Attorney General's Department including the murder of Usliyanage Ruwan Dhammika alias Dhammika Amarasinghe on January 9, 2004. Amarasinghe was allegedly murdered in the Court premises when he went there to give evidence in connection with a case.

Udaya Kumara was also charged with causing injuries to Seinulabdeen Mohammed Naufer at the same time and of possessing a pistol and live bullets without valid licence. Chaminda Udaya Kumara (28) an army deserter, in his statement to the Police said that he was given the contract to kill Dhammika Amarasinghe.

He was paid Rs 20,000 on January 7 and was asked to kill Amarasinghe in the Court premises. Senior State Counsel Thusitha Mudalige appeared for the prosecution.