Sri Lanka, May 15 -- Former Arachchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Jagath Samantha has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after being found guilty of assaulting the Arachchikattuwa Divisional Secretary.

The judgment was delivered today (15) by the Chilaw High Court.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the accused to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the Divisional Secretary. The court also ruled that failure to pay the compensation would result in an additional 24-month jail term.

The case was initially filed against both the late State Minister Sanath Nishantha and his brother over the assault incident. However, following the death of Sanath Nishantha in a road accident on the Katunayake Expressw...