On February 22, 1961 the trial against Buddharakkhitha, H.P. Jayawardana, Anura de Silva, Talduwe Somarama and Newton Perera commenced before T.S. Fernando an eminent Judge of the Supreme Court and Jury.
They were indicted that between August 25 and September 26, 1958 at Kelaniya, Wellampitiya, Rajagiriya, Colombo and other places within the jurisdiction of the Court, they agreed to commit or abet or act with common intention of committing the murder of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and that they were thereby guilty of the offence of murder, in consequence of which conspiracy the said offence of murder was committed to be punishable under Section 296 read with Sections 113 and 102 of the Penal Code.
Talduwe Somarama at No. 65, Rosmed Place, Colombo 7 within the jurisdiction of the Court committed murder by causing the death of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
After the conclusion of evidence of defence and prosecution, George E. Chitty in his address to the jury said that it was very clear to the jury that Buddharakkhitha was guilty of murder and of conspiracy. Jayawardana also was found guilty of murder and conspiracy.
On October 22 Newton disclosed to the police that the revolver which had been used to shoot the Prime Minister had been obtained by him from Ossie Corea and given to Buddharakkitha. Somarama got it from Buddharakkita.
Chitty examined the evidence relating to Anura de Silva. The case against him was established on his own utterances and movements. On the following day when Anura learnt about the death of the Prime Minister he observed that he was close to the criminals who had committed the murder of the Prime Minister.
When he went to meet Buddharakkitha he was told to shave his moustache and get into the national costume. Buddharakkhitha asked Anura what he should say if the police questioned him. Buddharakkitha had warned him to be careful about what he said to the police.
After Counsel made their submissions, Justice T.S. Fernando made his submission and asked the jury to retire and consider its verdict. On May 10, 1961 the jury retired to consider their verdict and at 12.10, p.m. gave its verdict. Never in the history of the Supreme Court had it witnessed such a large crowd as it did on May 10, when people came in their thousands to witness the outcome of the case which had been the most sensational.
It was the topic of discussion in the country for several months.
Unable to find even standing accommodation in the Court or its spacious corridors, people spilled over to the Court garden and the streets as well.
The police on duty had no easy task controlling the immense crowd when there was an announcement that the jury was ready to return in three hours. The jury re-entered the Court and re-occupied their seats. Every body seemed to be studying the faces of the seven men who were to make known in a moment the fate of the five men in the dock!
When all jurors took their seats the Clerk of the Asize asked the Foreman of the Jury whether they were unanimous in their verdict in respect of Buddharakkhitha, the first accused and other four accussed. The foreman said they were unanimous in their verdict. They found Buddharakkhitha, H.P. Jayawardana and Somarama guilty of the offence of conspiracy to murder and found Somarama guilty of committing the murder.
The foreman further said by their majority verdict they found Anura de Silva not guilty of any offence by divided verdict (5-2). They also found Newton Perera not guilty of any offence.
After the foreman had signed the verdict of the jury, Justice T.S. Fernando addressed the accused as follows:
“You, Mapitigama Buddharakkhitha, are found guilty of conspiring to kill Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in pursuance of which conspiracy the jury holds that this murder was committed.
I do not wish to harrow your feelings more than to say that being a Buddhist, I never thought I would have to perform the painful task of passing sentence of death upon a Buddhist monk.
Apart from the enormity of the crime you have committed by your conduct, you have defiled a most sacred place of worship, the Kelaniya Temple. You are the architect of this terrible crime.
You, H.P. Jayawardene have just heard the unanimous verdict of the jury that you too were a party to the conspiracy and sent a man so beloved by his people to an untimely death.
You, Anura de Silva by the unanimous verdict of the jury are acquitted. You may go home.
You, Talduwe Somarama appear to have been the instrument of the conspirators and wore the hallowed robe yourself at the time of the commission of the crime. Having regard to the strength of the evidence against you there has been in my view no counsel yet born who could have saved you.
You, Newton Perera, the divided verdict of the jury has found you not guilty. You owe your life to the labour of your counsel. You on your own showing are guilty of the conduct unworthy of a police officer. You should not have disgraced the Police Service.
Justice Fernando gave permission to the first, second, third and fourth accused to make their statements, if any. After they concluded their statements Justice Fernando passed the sentence of death on the three convicts.