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12 Sentenced to Death for Lawmaker's Murder Amid Protests

2/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Gampaha High Court sentenced 12 men to death for the 2022 murder of Amarakeerthi Athukorale, a Sri Lankan lawmaker, and his bodyguard Jayantha Gunawardena.
The court found the 12 guilty of unlawful assembly and assault during violent protests tied to Sri Lanka's economic crisis.
Four other suspects received suspended prison terms.
Twenty-three were acquitted.
The unrest led to the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and to Sri Lanka seeking economic assistance from India and the IMF to stabilize the situation.

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Story summary

The Gampaha High Court sentenced 12 men to death for the 2022 murder of Amarakeerthi Athukorale, a Sri Lankan lawmaker, and his bodyguard Jayantha Gunawardena.
The court found the 12 guilty of unlawful assembly and assault during violent protests tied to Sri Lanka's economic crisis.
Four other suspects received suspended prison terms.
Twenty-three were acquitted.
The unrest led to the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and to Sri Lanka seeking economic assistance from India and the IMF to stabilize the situation.