Opposition Leader and the leader of TNA, R. Sampanthan welcomed the judgement given in the Sivaloganathan Vidya’s rape and murder case.
He told to the Sunday Observer that the manner in which the investigations were conducted as well as swift legal procedures sets a good precedent, for criminals who think that they can evade the law.
“This is one of the worst crimes in the history of Sri Lanka, committed on an innocent young girl on her way to school. She was gruesomely gang-raped and killed.
“Fortunately, the inquiries were conducted expeditiously and the verdict of the Trial-at-Bar was delivered fast. This is a lesson to everyone who think they can commit such horrendous acts and escape,” the Opposition Leader said.
The trial-at-bar, which included Vavuniya High Court Judge Balendran Shashi Mahendran, Jaffna High Court Judge Illancheliyan Manickavasagar and Trincomalee High Court Judge Annalingam Premashankar, in their judgement ordered the seven accused to pay a compensation of Rs. 1 million each to Vidya’s family.
However, Vidya’s mother said that she doesn’t want to accept a single cent from the people responsible for her daughter’s death.
Meanwhile posters were put up in several places in Jaffna city, calling upon the people to join a ‘hartal’ yesterday, Saturday, to demand legal action and punishment against those who allegedly tried to help some of the suspects in the rape and murder case, was unheeded and normal life in the city was not disrupted.
The posters were put up in the name ‘Jaffna Women’s Movement’ and ‘People of Jaffna Offshore Islands’. Road transport services, including private and public bus services, train services and three-wheeler services operated as usual. Commercial activities functioned and streets were bustling with life as usual. When inquiries were made at the offices of the many women’s movements in Jaffna, they denied having put up any posters.