The Colombo High Court announced today that the Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for five defendants, including former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vass Gunawardena, for the 2013 kidnapping and murder of businessman Mohamed Siyam.
Former DIG Gunawardena, his son Senior Police Inspector Ravindu Gunawardena, and three police constables were presented in court today under prison custody. High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige informed the defendants that the Supreme Court had dismissed their appeals, affirming the death penalty imposed by the High Court in November 2015.
Defense lawyer Rahul Jayathilake raised concerns during the proceedings, noting that the Supreme Court had not specified an effective date for the implementation of the sentence. He requested the High Court to issue an order clarifying this. However, Judge Patabendige responded that only the Supreme Court had the jurisdiction to provide such an order.
The case stems from the brutal kidnapping and murder of Mohamed Siyam, a businessman based in Colombo, in May 2013. Gunawardena and his accomplices were found guilty of carrying out the crime on a $50,000 contract. The High Court initially sentenced the defendants to death in 2015, a verdict that has now been confirmed by the Supreme Court.
This decision marks the culmination of a long legal battle and reinforces the gravity of the charges against Vass Gunawardena, who once held a senior position in the Sri Lankan police force. The case has drawn widespread attention due to its connection to law enforcement officials and the high-profile nature of the crime.
