Judgment on Vaas Gunawardena’s appeal today

BY Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Supreme Court is to deliver its judgment today (8) regarding the appeal filed by former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena and four police officers who challenged the Colombo High Court’s judgment to convict them for committing the murder of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam.  

The judgment in the appeal is to be delivered today at 9.45 am before Supreme Court five-judge-bench comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Preethi Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekara, Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeyesekere.  

Former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena and four police officers were sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Trial–at-Bar Bench for committing the murder of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam in 2013 at Dompe.  

The accused who were ordered to be sentenced to death were; former DIG Vaas Gunawardena and his son Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena, Sub Inspector Indika Bamunuge, Police Constable (PC) Gamini Sarath Chandra, PC Priyanka Sanjeewa and PC Kelum Ranga. Through their appeal, six accused are seeking the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to review and set aside their conviction and the death sentence imposed by the High Court.  

Gamini Marapana PC with Navin Marapana PC, Counsel Nandapala Wickremasuriya, Kaushalya Molligoda and Uchitha Wickremasinghe appeared for Vaas Gunawardena and his son Ravindu Goonawardena. Senior Counsel Darshana Kuruppu appeared for the second accused. Anuja Premaratne PC appeared for the third accused. Counsel Ranjan Mendis appeared for the fourth accused. Anil Silva PC with Asitha Vipulanayake appeared for the fifth accused. Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena appeared for the Attorney General.