Janaka Perera assassination case - Life imprisonment for 2nd accused

The Anuradhapura Special High Court today sentenced Hameer Umar, the second accused after he was found guilty of the charged of killing of 31 people including Major General Janaka Perera in 2008.

The first accused was ex-LTTE cardre Sanmuganathan Sudhaharan who pleaded guilty to the charges of aiding and abetting and sentenced to 20-year rigorous imprisonment on September 5, 2014.

In September 2015, following a directive by the Chief Justice the case were transferred to the Anuradhapura Special High Court.

Major General Perera was a brave military officer who had thwarted many rebel attacks on government troops during the armed conflict.

At the time of his death he was serving as Opposition Leader of the North-Central Provincial Council, following his retirement from the military.

Deputy Solicitor General Sudharshan De Silva and the CID prosecuted while lawyers Nimal Marasinghe, Sajeewa Gunaratna, Chandani Hatangala, Ariyarana Wickramaarachchi appeared for the defence.