"Podi Paul" sentenced to death

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Galle High Court Judge Manjula Thilakarathne handed the death sentence to a suspect who was found guilty of shooting and killing an individual. Udhaya Kumara alias "Podi Paul" was the suspect who was sentenced to death. The case had been filed against 3 suspects including Udaya Kumara over the murder of Godawaththa Liyanage Lalith Prasanna on the 13th of October 2001 in Palliyapitiya, Rathgama. The other two suspects were acquitted due to the lack of evidence. The convict "Podi Paul" is a member of an organized criminal gang and several cases including attempted murder and possession of firearms have been filed against him before the Galle and Balapitiya Magistrate Courts.