Sri Lankan president assures justice for rape and murder victim

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday assured justice for a 17-year-old school girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in the north of the country recently.

The president who visited Jaffna to monitor the situation after violent protests broke out in the north following the murder told local students that he would appoint a special court to look into the case and ensure the perpetrators are punished.

Violent protests broke out in Jaffna and other areas in the north after the body of the teenager was found tied after allegedly being gang raped and killed in Pungudutivu.

A manhunt was launched by the police after the girl's parents had informed the Kayts Police station that their daughter had not returned home from school.

Some 130 people were arrested by Sri Lankan police last week after clashes erupted in front of the Jaffna court between police and the protestors who demanded that the nine suspects who were arrested over the incident be handed over to them.

Police were forced to use tear gas to disperse the violent protestors who were also demanding the death penalty for the nine suspects.

In the aftermath of the clashes, Sri Lanka's Police Chief N.K. Ilangakoon visited the north to obtain more information on the murder and said he had handed over the investigations to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Endi