The Supreme Court today (July 31) granted permission to hear an appeal seeking to invalidate the verdict delivered by the Court of Appeal, which acquitted and released former Minister Premalal Jayasekara, also known as Choka Malli, and two others, who had previously been sentenced to death in connection with the murder of a person named Shantha Dodamgoda during a political rally.
This incident occurred during a campaign rally for presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena in Kahawatta, ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
This decision was made when the appeal was considered before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva, Priyantha Fernando, and Sampath Abeykoon.
Accordingly, the case has been scheduled for hearing on February 13, 2026.
The aggrieved party states in the appeal that the verdict of the Court of Appeal, which acquitted and released Premalal Jayasekara and the other accused, was unlawful.
The petitioners are requesting the Supreme Court to nullify that verdict and to reinstate the original death sentence handed down by the High Court against the accused. (Newswire)