Fmr. Walapane PS chairman sentenced to 12 years in prison

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Former chairman of the Walapane Pradeshiya Sabha, and current SLFP Organizer for Walapane - Jagath Kumara Samarahewa and his driver Jatilalal Fernando were sentenced to 12-years in prison by the N'Eliya High Court. They were found guilty of being in possession of firearms without the necessary license and for misusing a state SUV belonging to the Agriculture Department in the year 2004. High Court Judge S.U.B. Karaliyadda fined them Rs. 10.5 Million each and handed a 10-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment for misusing public property. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional four years being added to their 10-year sentence. On the charge of illegal possession of firearms, they were fined Rs. 7,500 each and given a two-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment. Failure to pay the fine would add another six months of prison time to their sentence. The court case against Jagath Kumara and Jatilalal Fernando was filed in 2004 by officials including Ruwan Gunasekara, the fmr. Police OIC of Udupussellawa.