Suspended RI for Ex SLFP MP, two others

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional Districtgroup correspondent

Anuradhapura High Court Judge Sunanda Kumara Ratnayake imposed a sentence of two years' rigorous imprisonment suspended for seven years on three accused in an assault case namely Janaka Mahendra Adikari, Eramudugolla Walawwe Parakrama Eramudugolla and Ilangasinghe Rajakaruna Somapala alias Chuti on pleading guilty to the offense.

The sentence was given 14 years after the said incident.

The first accused Janaka Mahendra Adhikari once had been the Anuradhapura District SLFP Parliamentarian and is presently a member of the PC (NCP).

The suspects were indicted under case No. HC 64/2000 before the Anuradhapura High Court on seven charges framed under section 323 of the penal code read with section 146 where they had caused injuries to one Manoratne Acharige Premaratne, an electrical superintendent attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board on or about September 7, 1999 while the latter was on duty in Kekirawa. The three suspects were found guilty on fifth, sixth and seventh counts by the High Court Judge.

He imposed 10 months RI on all three suspects and ordered the first and second suspects to pay fines of Rs 15,000 each and the third suspect was ordered to pay crown costs of Rs 10,000. Also the High Court Judge imposed four months RI on them and again 10 months' Rigorous Imprisonment on the three suspects on Count No. 07. In addition they were ordered to pay a fine of Rs 15,000 and the third suspect was directed to pay crown costs amounting to Rs 10,000. In addition the HCJ ordered compensation amounting to Rs 5,000 to be paid to the complainant, Ranaweera Kaluarachchige Mohandiramge Weerawansa by the three accused.

Attorney-at-Law U R de Silva appeared for the first and the second accused. Attorney-at-Law R B Ilangasinghe appeared for the third accused. State Council Kasun Ponnamperuma appeared for the complainant on behalf of the Attorney General. The High Court Judge on the basis of the mitigation by defence lawyers suspended the sentence of two years' rigorous imprisonment for seven years and gave time to pay fines and the compensation till 13.05.2013.