Defendant to appeal against ruling

Colombo High Court judge Amal Ranaraja yesterday (28) sentenced former UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra to three years rigorous imprisonment.The former Colombo District parliamentarian was found guilty of involvement in the

abduction and detention of a youth in the Dematagoda area on 21 Dec., 2015.Premachandra was found guilty of 18 charges and the court ordered that a fine of Rs. 20,000 be imposed on each charge.

According to the order, in case the fines weren’t paid by the convict, an additional six months imprisonment each would be imposed.When the case was taken up, Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja declared in open court that the defendant had been found guilty of conspiracy and aiding and abetting the abduction of a youth.

Before the sentenced was announced, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, who represented the plaintiff, recalled that the Colombo High Court had previously handed suspended prison sentences and imposed fines on eight supporters of the defendant who pleaded guilty before the court in connection with the abduction incident.

President’s Counsel Anura Maddegoda, who appeared for the defendant Hirunika Premachandra, informed the court that the defendant would file an appeal against the judgement.

Accordingly, former MP Hirunika Premachandra, who was sentenced to prison, is currently in the custody of prison officials.

Premachandra had been accused of involvement in abducting, assaulting and wrongfully detaining the youth, identified as Amila Priyanka Amarasinghe employed at a shop in the Dematagoda area.

In 2017, seven persons identified as supporters of Premachandra pleaded guilty before the court, but Premachandra did not do so.Premachandra switched her allegiance to Sajith Premadasa in 2020.