The Supreme Court on Monday (1) dismissed an appeal filed by convicted drug trafficker Gampola Vidanalage Samantha Kumara, alias “Wele Suda”, and upheld the death sentence imposed on him by the Colombo High Court.
The ruling was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardhena, Arjuna Obeysekara and Sobitha Rajakaruna.
Welle Suda had been convicted of possessing and trafficking 7.05 grams of heroin in Mount Lavinia in 2008. The Colombo High Court sentenced him to death on Oct. 14, 2015.
After his appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, the convicted trafficker filed a final appeal before the Supreme Court seeking to overturn both judgments and secure an acquittal.
After considering submissions from both parties, the Supreme Court held that there was insufficient legal basis to proceed with the appeal and dismissed the petition, thereby affirming the death sentence imposed by the High Court. (Newswire)