“Julampitiye Amare” to Death Row:

Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence previously imposed by the Tangalle High Court on G.G. Amarasinghe Gamage, widely known as Julampitiye Amare — a name that long evoked fear across Sri Lanka’s deep south.

With no higher court of appeal available, Amare will remain in prison until a date is set for the execution.

The 2012 Katuyana Massacre: Turning Point in a Violent Career

The verdict stems from a June 11, 2012 attack on a Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) meeting in Katuyana, Hediwatta.

Gunfire and brutal assaults left two people dead — Malani Edirimanne (50) and Heshan Jayasekara (18) — and several others seriously injured.

The attack, allegedly led by Amare and his armed gang, shattered a peaceful grassroots gathering held at L.M. Ranjith’s home, attended by senior JVP figure Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.

Eyewitnesses testified that Amare stormed in without even a mask, shouting:

“I’m the bull from Medamulana Walawwa — try stopping me if you can!”

That chilling declaration — referencing the Rajapaksa family’s ancestral seat — underscored the impunity enjoyed by local political enforcers at the time.

Police Inaction: The Hour That Shook Katuyana

Although the Katuyana Police Station stood barely 1.5 km away, officers failed to respond for nearly an hour.

The attack lasted over 30 minutes, yet the police neither intervened nor answered emergency calls.

When they finally arrived, they reportedly blamed the victims instead of protecting them.

This delay became a symbol of how political influence eroded justice in Sri Lanka’s south.

The Catalyst: A Newspaper Headline That Exposed the “Medamulana Connection”

The immediate trigger was believed to be a story published in the JVP’s “Lanka” newspaper titled:

“Tie Down the Bulls Milking Medamulana.”

The piece linked Amare to the ruling family’s local power network — a claim that reportedly enraged him.

In the days that followed, he assaulted and threatened multiple JVP activists, setting the stage for the deadly June 11 attack.

A Career Built on Fear

Julampitiye Amare was not new to violence.

He was feared as a regional enforcer, allegedly responsible for six murders, multiple abductions, and numerous assaults.

Court records show over 30 warrants had been issued against him — yet for years, he operated openly, often seen at public events in the south.

Threats to the Kithulegoda Family

After the “Lanka” article was published, Amare reportedly confronted the family of JVP veteran Jinadasa Kithulegoda, threatening his wife at their Julampitiya home.

Three local JVP members were later brutally beaten, allegedly on his orders.

Prison Riots and Escapes

Amare’s criminal saga didn’t end with murder.

He was accused of leading the 2000 Tangalle Prison riot and later escaped custody in 2002.

At one point, he was facing 11 serious cases simultaneously — including six murder charges and five other violent crimes.

The End of an Era of Fear

The Supreme Court’s confirmation of his death sentence marks the end of one of Sri Lanka’s most notorious criminal chapters — one that exposed the deep intertwining of politics, police complicity, and terror.

Julampitiye Amare — once untouchable — will now face the justice long denied to his victims.