UNF Colombo District MP Hirunika Premachandra said after clamouring for justice, in connection with the murder of her father, for five long years, her struggle had triumphed after five suspects in the case were sentenced to death by a special trial-at-bar of the Colombo High Court (CHC) last morning.
The Colombo High Court yesterday handed down death sentences on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th and 11th accused, including former MP Duminda Silva. The fifth suspect was not in Court when the verdict was announced.
Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, a former Presidential Adviser, and his bodyguards, were mowed down in a flurry of bullets in October 2011 shortly before the elections, on the campaign trail.
Speaking to reporters gathered outside the CHC, Hirunika said that even though justice may have been delivered in the form of the verdict, she will never again see her father alive.
"We did not go to Court to influence its verdict. My only concern was to see justice being meted out for the killing of my father.
"We were only able to seek justice after President Maithripala Sirisena came to power. My mother and I constantly live with just the memories of my father at home."
Hirunika added that she fervently hoped that similar justice would be meted out in the killings of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Prageeth Ekneligoda etc.
Death sentences are automatically commuted to life sentences in Sri Lanka since the death penalty is not carried out under law.
