Six persons including a family of four were sentenced to death today by the Matara High Court, for the murder of a 57-year-old in Gandara, Matara in 2001.

A father, mother and two sons of the same family and a father and a son of a neighbouring family were sentenced to death by Judge Damith Thotawaththa.

The murder had taken place on May 17, 2001. The catalyst for the murder was said to be a land dispute.

The Southern Province is renowned for land disputes with litigation dragging on for decades due to failures in the system.