12 Sentenced to Death in Sri Lanka for 2022 Lawmaker Killing
In a recent ruling by a Sri Lankan court, 12 men received death sentences for their involvement in the murder of a lawmaker and his security guard during the tumultuous period of the nation’s economic crisis in May 2022. This verdict, handed down by the Gampaha High Court, also included convictions for unlawful assembly and assault, as stated by senior state counsel Oswald Perera.
The incident occurred in Nittambuwa, approximately 30 kilometers north of Colombo, where ruling party lawmaker Amarakeerthi Athukorale and his police officer bodyguard were attacked. Their vehicle was intercepted by a crowd, leading to a deadly confrontation. According to police reports, gunshots were fired by either Athukorale or his guard at the protestors, who subsequently pursued and trapped them inside a building. Their bodies were later discovered by the authorities.
In addition to the death sentences, the court imposed six-month suspended sentences for five years on four other individuals for unlawful assembly, while 23 people were acquitted of charges, Perera noted.
The violence in May 2022 was sparked by an attack from ruling party supporters on a peaceful demonstration demanding the resignation of government leaders amid the economic crisis. The unrest resulted in numerous assaults on lawmakers and the destruction of several homes.
Sri Lanka’s economic turmoil, characterized by severe shortages, culminated in the ousting of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The nation declared bankruptcy in April 2022, burdened with over $83 billion in debt. In the aftermath, senior opposition member Ranil Wickremesinghe was installed as president in July 2022. His tenure saw improvements in economic indicators, including reduced inflation, a stronger local currency, and increased foreign reserves, although his government faced criticism for its harsh austerity measures.
In 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed the presidency on a platform focused on anti-corruption reforms.
Despite the legal authority to enforce capital punishment, Sri Lanka has not carried out an execution since 1976.
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