Vidya’s murderer attempts sexual assault again

By Shane Seneviratne

Colombo, April 6 (Daily Mirror) - One of the seven persons who gang-raped and murdered schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya in Jaffna is 2013 is alleged to have attempted to sexually abuse a lady doctor on duty at the prison in Pallekelle, Kandy where he is kept since conviction.

Police said the prisoner J.Kokilan Kanna, who is under treatment at the prison hospital, had held the doctor in embrace and attempted to rape her. Police said following screams from the lady doctor, prison officials rushed to the scene and saved her.

Pallekele police are conducting investigations.

In September 2017, the Jaffna High Court Trial-at-Bar sentenced seven individuals to death for the abduction, gang rape, and murder of 18-year-old Sivaloganathan Vidya in Pungudutivu, Sri Lanka, on May 13, 2015.

The incident had led to nationwide protests by crowds angry at the rape and murder of the school girl and demanding justice.

Vidya’s funeral, which took place on 15 May 2015 at Manalkaadu Cemetery, was attended by hundreds of people including local politicians.