28 years RI for Julampitiye Amare

Geeganage Amarasiri alias Julampitiye Amare, who was found guilty of the charges of unlawful assembly, criminal assault and causing damage to property, was on Monday sentenced to 28 years and six months rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs.20,000.

Monaragala High Court Judge Gihan H. Kulatunga also ordered him to pay Rs.2.4 million as compensation to the aggrieved party.

Julampitiye Amare and K.G. Lal Wasantha were accused of having had on April 8, 2011 assaulted P.P. Ranjith a resident of Arambekema in Hambegamuwa causing him serious injuries before setting fire to his  home and a van. The accused who was serving a jail term for previous convictions was brought to the High Court by prison officials.

Meanwhile, the second suspect K.G. Lal Wasantha was acquitted of all charges and released on September 10, 2014.

State Counsel Agbo Panditharatne prosecuted while Attorneys-at-Law Upali Hetti and Sanjaya Wengappuli appeared for the defence. (Sumanasiri Gunatilleka)