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Death sentence for abduction and murder
Kalutara - Kalutara High Court Judge Sarath Gunatillaka sentenced an accused to death for abducting and killing two youth during the period of insurgency in 1989.
The accused, Wijesinghe Udugama was charged with the murder of Siriwardhana Karunatillake and Kamantuge Chandradasa of Girikola, Agalawatta.
A plaint was filed against M. Karunasinghe, Sarath Abeysinghe, Samsan Madensa, Wickramapala, Polwattage Yasapala, K. Somasiri, Wijesiri Udugama and Lionel Weerasiri.
Samson Madensa died before the commencement of the case.
M. Karunasinghe and Sarath Abaysinghe were acquitted after recording the evidence of witnesses.
Polwattage Yasapala, K. Somasiri and K. Lionel were also acquitted after the case.
Mr. Shanaka Wijesinghe, State Counsel Prosecuted.
Mr. Wimal Gunatillake defended the accused who was convicted.
U. R. de Silva and Wajira Lakshman Asarappali appeared for the accused who were acquitted.
Library in memory of SPC member
Batapola - Minister of Rural Development and Vocational Trai-ning, Amarasiri Doda-ngoda laid the foundation stone for a library building in memory of the late SPC member, Mrs. S. V. Seelawathie (Sirinawathie) de Sil-va at Godamana, Nin-dana.
Funds for the venture would be allocated from the decentralised budget of SPC member, Ajith de Silva (LSSP) who is a son of the late member. He was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the demise of the LSSP member.
Speaking on the occasion, the Mini-ster said that Mrs. de Silva had rendered a yeoman service to the masses as a stalwart of the LSSP. She created history by becoming the first woman chairperson in a UC, when selected as the head of the Ambalangoda UC in nineteen seventies.
She was in the vanguard of each and every protest rallies and campaigns against the existing governments, siding the course of the down-trodden people. To erect a library in her memory is a fitting tribute to her as a library is a place where intellectuals are formed. The young today don't make much use of libraries owing to the competitive nature of getting through exams. They prefer to attend tuition classes. But they should think that libraries too are essential in enhancing their knowledge about the happennings in the world outside. Young and old should not waste their valuable time frivolously, but visit libraries and make use of them wisely.
Ambalangoda Divisional Secretary, Kulasena Samarasinghe, SPC member, Ajith de Silva, Galle District MP, Asoka Weerasinghe de Silva and Ambalangoda PS Chairman, H. L. Kusumsiri also spoke.
Two suspects acquitted in murder and theft case
Kalutara - Kalutara Magistrate and Additional District Judge C. V. Rajapakse acquitted the first and second suspects in the murder of a security guard and removing Rs. 796,477/72 worth of cigarettes from a cigarette agent in Alutgama.
The Judge said that there wasn't sufficient evidence against the suspects.
He also ordered that the fourth and fifth suspects be released on bail and the third suspect to be remanded.
W. Sisira Kumara Fernando alias Sisil of Alutgama and Duwage Dhammika of Ragama were released at the request of police report.
H. A. Nihal alias Christ was ordered to be remanded and Ranjana Kodituwakku Karunaratne and Serasinghe Kodituwakku of Battaramulla were acquitted.
It was revealed during investigations that the two suspects had robbed cigarettes from the Kandana area although the police suspect that the cigarettes were robbed from Alutgama.
G. M. Piyadasa, the security guard was killed in the incident.
Mr. Wajira Lakshman Asarappali and Mr. Upul Deva appeared for the suspect while the prosecution was led under the Instructions of S. A. B. Tibbotuwa ASP Kalutara by L. R. Gamage, OIC Alutgama police and Sgt. Seneviratne.
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