Amarakeerthi Athukorala assassination 32 accused released on bail

• Former Parliamentarian and his security officer had been killed during a civil commotion last year
• The accused were ordered to report to their nearest Police Stations between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon on the last Sunday of every month

By Tony Karunanayaka 

Another 32 accused who stand indicted with the murder of former Polonnaruwa District Parliamentarian Amarakirthi Atukorala and his security officer Sergeant Ahangama Vitharanalage Jayantha Gunawardene were released by the three-member bench of the Gampaha High Court on cash bail in Rs.100,000 and personal bail in Rs. 400,000 with four sureties each. They were subject to strict bail conditions. 

The case was taken up yesterday before the Bench comprising High Court Judges Sahan Mapa Bandara (President), Rashimi Singappuli and D.A. Ruwan.Pathirana. All the 37 accused including the five accused who had been released on bail earlier appeared in court. 

The court ordered that one of the sureties for each accused should be a close relative and that two others should be either officers of state establishments or in private sector institutions. The accused were ordered to report to their nearest Police Stations between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon on the last Sunday of every month. 

The Attorney General had filed indictments against 41 accused, but it transpired that two of them had died, and two others had fled the country. 

Former Parliamentarian and his security officer had been killed during a civil commotion in Nittambuwa on May 09 last year that coincided with “Aragalaya” campaign. 

The case was postponed for 2.00 pm on August 10.