The Court of Appeal has upheld the death sentence handed down to G.P. Amarasiri, alias Julampitiya Amare, a notorious figure who infamously referred to himself as the “Hunting Dog of the Medamulana Walawwa.”
Julampitiya Amare was sentenced to death by the Tangalle High Court on July 11, 2019, after being found guilty of a brutal attack on a JVP rally in the Pinnamandiya area of Hadiwatte, Katuwana, on June 15, 2012. The attack resulted in the deaths of two individuals and the severe injury of another.
During the rally, held at the residence of Liyanage Ranjith, the then JVP MP Nalinda Jayatissa was delivering a speech when a group of armed men, led by Amare, stormed the event on motorcycles. Amare, wielding a T-56 firearm, reportedly shouted, “Here I am, the hunting dog of Medamulana Walawwa. Who organized this?” before opening fire.
The victims of the attack included 50-year-old Edirimannage Malani and 18-year-old J.P. Nimantha Greshan, who were killed on the spot. A 26-year-old youth, Pradeep Saranga, sustained life-threatening injuries.
Following the Tangalle High Court’s verdict, Amare filed an appeal seeking to overturn the conviction and death sentence. However, the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Sampath B. Abeykoon and P. Kumararatnam, rejected his appeal and upheld the original sentence.
This landmark decision reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to justice and accountability for heinous crimes.
