Colombo: A former Sri Lankan MP and four others were yesterday sentenced to death by the High Court here after being found guilty in the murder of an ex-MP and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s advisor.

Seven others were acquitted during the trial, which began in 2012. The accused were charged of murdering Bharatha Laxman Premachandra in October 2011 ahead of the elections. Duminda Silva and Premachandra had exchanged blows and Premachandra was subsequently gunned down.