In 2015, a young man working at a shop in Dematagoda was allegedly abducted, assaulted, and unlawfully detained. Former Member of Parliament Hirunika Premachandra was later found guilty of these charges. On June 28, 2024, the Colombo High Court sentenced her to three years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 20,000.
Premachandra has appealed this judgement, asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the conviction and release her. The appeal was taken up today (July 6) before a bench comprising Justices P. Kumaran Ratnam and Pradeep Hettiarachchi.
During the hearing, Premachandra’s lawyer informed the court that President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando would appear on her behalf and requested a date for the examination of the appeal. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara, representing the Attorney General, also requested that the case be scheduled for an early hearing.
After considering the submissions, the Court of Appeal ordered that the appeal be heard on August 6.
