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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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Pillayan had prior knowledge of Easter attacks – Minister (Video)

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Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says that investigations have revealed that Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias “Pilleyan”, had prior knowledge of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

Making a special statement in Parliament today (July 09), the minister pointed out that Pilleyan was in custody at the Batticaloa Prison when the attacks took place, and that strong evidence exists that he had prior knowledge of the attacks.

(Video : Voicetube)

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Student held under PTA for nine months to be produced in court

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The case of a 21-year-old student detained for nearly nine months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be taken up in court today (July 9).

Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhail, an aviation student from Mawanella, was arrested in October 2024 after posting a video on Instagram showing the Israeli flag being trampled, BBC Sinhala reported.

He was initially taken into custody by Dehiwala Police near the Israeli consular office for failing to carry his national identity card and later released when the document was produced in court.

However, Suhail was re-arrested and remanded under the PTA in connection with the Instagram video, despite the court previously releasing him without bail. His lawyer alleges that no formal charges have been filed and no evidence has been presented by police to support the detention.

The prolonged incarceration has drawn criticism from rights groups, legal experts, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, which has been formally notified. Meanwhile, Suhail’s family has lodged a complaint, calling for his immediate release.

(dailymirror.lk)

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

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Injured Wanindu ruled out of Bangladesh T20I series

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Sri Lanka’s T20I captain Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh after suffering a hamstring injury to his right leg.

The injury occurred while he was batting during the third and final ODI of the recently concluded series.

Following a medical evaluation, Hasaranga will return to Colombo to undergo rehabilitation at Sri Lanka Cricket’s High Performance Centre.

Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that no replacement will be added to the T20I squad in his absence.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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