Sri Lanka, Oct. 3 -- The Homagama High Court, presided over by Justice Nawarathna Marasinghe, today (3) sentenced a man convicted of the grave sexual abuse of a three-year-old girl under the guise of riding a bicycle. The court imposed a 12-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment.

The accused was convicted under Section 365(A)(2)(b) of the Penal Code for the severe offence.

In addition to the prison sentence, Justice Marasinghe ordered the convict to, pay a fine of Rs. 25,000, or face an additional six months in prison or pay Rs. 300,000 in compensation to the victim, or face a further one year of simple imprisonment.

The State Counsel urged the court to impose the maximum penalty, arguing that the act committed by the accused, who was ...