Second accused in Janaka Perera murder sentenced to life

Colombo (News 1st): The second accused in the case of the suicide bomb attack which killed Major General Janaka Perera and 30 others was sentenced to life in prison today (May 21). Anuradhapura Special High Court Judge and Gampaha Provincial High Court Judge Khema Swarnadhipathi delivering the verdict ordered for all movable and immovable property of the accused to be confiscated. According to State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the coordinating officer for the Attorney General the accused was convicted of the 01st & 03rd to 31st charges and was acquitted of charges 32 to 49. He was sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for the 01st and 03rd charges and life imprisonment for each other charge to run consecutively. In addition, the expensive Swiss watch given to the defendant as a gift by LTTE Leader Prabhakaran, a cyanide capsule and a shirt were ordered to be handed over to the TID to be placed in its museum which will be constructed soon. Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana De Silva appeared for the state.