Court Sentences Man to Death After 18‑Year Trial Over Police Killing

by Zulfick Farzan 23-04-2026 | 4:04 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Balapitiya High Court today sentenced a defendant to death for the murder of a police officer, following the conclusion of an 18‑year‑long trial.

The case was filed by the Attorney General against one main accused and three other female defendants, charging them with the fatal shooting of a police constable attached to the Badddegama Police while he was on a raid.

After considering the evidence, Balapitiya High Court Judge Ruchira Veliwatta ordered the death sentence for the main accused and acquitted the three other defendants.

The murder took place on or around November 30, 2008, when Police Constable Dilip Kumarasinghe of the Badddegama Police was shot dead while participating in a raid together with Police Sergeant Jagath Nandana.