Armed police and elite commando forces were deployed (Photo Elmo Fernando)

In two identification parades held over two hours on Monday in Colombo witness identified Nishantha Udayakumara and Sampath Thushara Wijewardhana as suspects who shot Judge Ambepitiya and his police bodyguard R A Upali.

Ajith Rohana Wijesinghe and Suminda Niroshana were identified as ones who aided the killing.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga reactivated the death penalty after the Judge and his bodyguard was shot dead on Friday 19 November.

Tight security

Suspects as well as witness were brought to court under tight security. Armed police and elite commando forces were deployed at the courts complex in Hultsdorf.

When the suspects were later produced before the Colombo chief magistrate, no attorney-at-law represented the accused.

The statement made to the Magistrate by suspects were not made available to the media.

A request by the police to obtain a DNA screening of a suspect was granted by the courts.

Suspects who were warned by the courts not to intimidate witness were remanded until 10th December.