Ratnapura High Court sentences SLPP candidate to death

Ratnapura High Court yesterday handed down the death penalty to SLPP candidate and former MP Premalal Jayasekara, alias Choka Malli, and two others over a fatal shooting incident in Kahawatte during the Presidential Election in 2015.

Former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council member Nilantha Jayakody and former Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Vajira Darshana are the others who have been sentenced to death.

The shooting took place on Jan 05, 2015 and caused the death of a supporter of the Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena in Kahawatta.

The UNP supporter, who was engaged in decorating a stage, was wounded in the shooting and succumbed to his injuries in hospital on January 8.

The Pelmadulla Magistrate issued arrest warrants on the suspects involved.

Former Deputy Minister Jayasekara was arrested on January 10 over the election-related shooting incident while he had been released on bail on December 07, 2015.

Former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councilor Nilantha Jayakody and former Kahawatta Pradeshiya Sabha chairman Vajira Darshana were also arrested over the shooting.

Halkandiya Lekamlage Premalal Jayasekera, also known as ‘Choka Malli’, is contesting the coming parliamentary election from the Ratnapura District from the SLPP team led by Vasudeva Nanayakkara.