A Sri Lanka Army soldier who was found guilty for the killing of 8 civilians in Mirusuvil, Jaffna nearly 15 years ago has been sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court today.
The murders occurred on 19 December, 2000 when eight internally displaced refugees returning to inspect their property were arrested in the village of Mirusuvil.
They were subsequently murdered and buried in a mass grave, about 16 miles east of Jaffna town.
The Attorney General had filed charges against 5 army soldiers in connection with the incident.
When the case was taken up today, the court sentenced Staff Sergeant Sunil Rathnayake to death as sufficient evidence had proven his guilt.
However, the other 4 soldiers were acquitted as there was insufficient evidence to link them to the murders.
