Five accused including former MP Duminda Silva were handed over death sentence by Colombo High Court over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

The High Court trial at bar, in a 2-1 majority decision, convicted these five over six charges including conspiring to murder.

High Court judges Padmini N Ranawake and MCBS Moraes agreed to the decision while judge Shiran Gunaratne dissented, determining that all five were innocent of the charges.