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SC grants leave for appeals filed by convicts in Vidya murder

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The Supreme Court today (06) granted leave to proceed with the appeals filed by the defendants who were given the death penalty over the 2015 abduction, gang rape and murder of schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya, seeking their acquittal from the charges and their sentences.

Accordingly, the appeals were ordered to be taken up for consideration on August 25, 2025.

This order was issued when the case was taken up before the three-member Supreme Court judge bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva and Sampath Abeykoon today (Feb. 06).

On September 27, 2017, the Jaffna High Court, which heard the case filed over the abduction, gang rape and murder of 18-year-old schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya, gave the death penalty to the 07 accused including the chief suspect in the case ‘Swiss Kumar’.  

Delivering the much-anticipated verdict after the widely publicised trial came to an end, the three-member judge bench had sentenced the 07 suspects to death and also ordered them to pay Rs. 1 million as compensation to the victim’s family.

In addition to the death penalty, the suspects were also sentenced to a further 30 years in prison.

Sivaloganathan Vidya, an 18-year-old schoolgirl from Punkudutivu, was abducted, gang-raped and murdered in Jaffna, while returning home from school on May 13, 2015. 

However, the appealing party has sought an order from the Supreme Court declaring that the relevant sentences have been imposed in violation of the law and seeking to acquit them of the charges.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

 

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Boossa Prison jailor remanded over ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ murder

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A Jailor at the Boossa Prison, who had brought underworld figure Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne also known as “Ganemulla Sanjeewa” to court on the day he was killed inside the Hulftsdorp court premises, has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).

Subsequently, he has been ordered to be remanded until March 21, after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, Ada Derana reporter said.

Presenting the suspect to the court, the Colombo Crimes Division officials have stated that the murdered suspect, “Ganemulla Sanjeewa”, had been brought to court by the arrested Jailer on the day of the assassination.

Police informed the court that investigations are underway to determine whether the crime was committed due to the Jailor’s dereliction of duty.

Police also pointed out to the court that investigations have revealed that the suspected prison officer had not taken any steps to arrest the individual who shot at “Ganemulla Sanjeewa” within the court premises and fled.

During the trial, police also requested permission to obtain a record of the suspect’s mobile phone calls for further investigations.

The court granted permission for the requests and ordered the suspect to be remanded until March 21.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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‘Unicorn’ found dead with gunshot wounds

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An iconic Tusker in Sri Lanka has been discovered dead in the Katukaliyawa area of Minneriya National Park.

The one tusked creature was known as ‘Unicorn’ and was an iconic Tusker in the region.

According to reports, the Tusker is believed to have died from gunshot wounds. 

No arrests have been made yet.

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Mervyn Silva further remanded

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Former Minister Mervyn Silva has been remanded again.

He was ordered to be held in remand custody until March 24 after being produced before the Mahara Magistrate’s court today (March 17).

Silva was arrested by the CID over a land fraud using forged documents.

Meanwhile, the Mahara Magistrate’s Court has also imposed a travel ban on former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera and two other suspects.

Police is investigating the involvement of Prasanna Ranaweera, Sarath Kumara Edirisinghe, and Milroy Perera in the same case.

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