The Gampaha High Court has sentenced twelve people convicted of killing Polonnaruwa District Parliamentarian Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security guard during the 2022 protests to death.
Four others were sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for five years.
In addition, 23 other defendants were acquitted and released by the Gampaha High Court.
On May 9, 2022, during the nationwide violence, Polonnaruwa District Parliamentarian Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security guard were attacked and killed by protesters in the Nittambuwa area.
When the vehicle carrying the MP and his security guard was seized by a group of protesters, MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala fled the scene with his security guard, who was armed with a gun. This is confirmed by footage captured from a nearby CCTV camera.
The MP and his security guard, who fled the scene, were later found hiding in a nearby building and attacked and killed by protesters.
The Attorney General filed indictments against 42 individuals in the Gampaha High Court in connection with the murders.