The Polonnaruwa High Court sentenced the suspect convicted for murdering Priyantha Sirisena, the brother of President Maithripala Sirisena to 18 years of rigorous imprisonment following court proceedings on November 30. 

In addition to the 18 year sentence the guilty party was requested to pay Rs.1000000 to the next of kin of Priyantha Sirisena and a fine of Rs.200000. The sentence will be extended by a further 2 and a half years should the convict fail to pay the fines. 

Don Ishara Lakmal Saputhanthri was arrested on March 26, 2015 after he surrendered to Bakamuna Police. 

Police said that during interrogations, the suspect revealed that the crime was committed in retribution as Priyantha had yelled at his parents using foul language.

Saputhanthri, 34, had stated that he hid and waited for Priyantha, also known as Weli Raju, before attacking him with the axe to the back of the head, police said.

During investigations the Police recovered the weapon used by the suspects from near the scene of the crime in Hathare Ela, Bendiwewa. Both the suspect and the axe were produced before the Polonnaruwa Court today.

Priyantha, who had suffered serious injuries from the attack, is currently receiving treatment in the ICU of a private hospital in Colombo while he has reportedly undergone surgery.

Priyantha, a businessman predominantly engaged in sand mining, is a younger brother of President Sirisena.