Connect with us

News

SC grants leave for appeals filed by convicts in Vidya murder

Published

on

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)

 

News

Thushara Upuldeniya granted bail

Published

on

By

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to suspended Prisons Commissioner General Thushara Upuldeniya.

Upuldeniya was previously remanded over allegations of facilitating the unlawful release of an inmate from Anuradhapura Prison under the guise of a presidential amnesty.

Continue Reading

News

Wimal appears before CID

Published

on

By

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and former MP Wimal Weerawansa appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to provide a statement regarding remarks he made about a shipment of 323 containers linked to a provincial governor.

He was summoned to record a statement in connection with multiple complaints received over his comments made during a media briefing on January 29.

Following his remarks, Western Province Governor – Hanif Yusoof lodged a complaint with the CID on January 30, claiming he was targeted through social media posts.

Police said that several other parties have also filed complaints related to the same incident.

Continue Reading

News

Neurosurgeon’s daughter granted bail

Published

on

By

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of Hemali Wijerathna, daughter of Dr. Maheshi Surasinghe Wijerathna, a consultant neurosurgeon at the Sri Jayawardenapura General Hospital, who is currently in remand custody.

Colombo Chief Magistrate – Tanuja Lakmali Jayatunga ordered that the suspect be released on a personal bail of Rs.500,000.

She was arrested by the Keselwatta Police and produced before court.

Meanwhile, the case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against her for allegedly threatening CIABOC officers is scheduled to be taken up again today (July 09).

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Sri Lanka Mirror. All Rights Reserved