Breaking: SC Upholds Death Sentences for Former DIG Vass Gunawardena & Son

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal petitions of former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Vass Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Gunawardena, and four police officers, all of whom are currently on death row.

The petitions sought to overturn the death sentences imposed by the Colombo Special High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Vass Gunawardena and his son were sentenced to death for the abduction and murder of businessman Mohamed Siyam in 2013. The court found them, along with four other police officers, guilty of both murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Businessman Mohamed Siyam, based in Bambalapitiya, was abducted and subsequently murdered in the Dompe area on 22 May 2013. The court determined that Vass Gunawardena had killed Siyam in exchange for Rs. 10 million from a business rival, making him the highest-ranking police officer to be convicted of murder in Sri Lanka.