The Court of Appeal has upheld the death sentence imposed on Geeganage Gamage Amarasiri, alias ‘Julampitiye Amare,’ who was convicted for the 2012 killings of two individuals and the injury of another in Katuwana, Hambantota.

In a ruling on November 19, the two-judge bench comprising Justices Sampath B. Abayakoon and P. Kumararatnam dismissed the appeal filed by the accused, affirming the death sentence handed down by the Tangalle High Court. The court upheld five charges against Amarasiri, including the murder of Edirimannage Malani, 50, and J.P. Nimantha Greshan, 18, who were shot during a JVP meeting at a residence in Hadiwatta, Katuwana, on June 15, 2012. A third victim, Pradeep Saranga, 26, sustained severe injuries in the attack.

While the Court of Appeal confirmed the death sentence, it set aside the sentences related to alternative counts, noting that they were redundant given the convictions on the primary charges.

Justice Abayakoon, said that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and that the trial judge had properly considered the evidence before convicting the accused. The ruling comes after the Tangalle High Court initially sentenced Amarasiri to death on November 7, 2019.

The accused was represented by U.R. de Silva, P.C. with Savithri Fernando, while Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha Perera appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.