Amarakeerthi Athukorala (23 December 1964 â 9 May 2022) was a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Podujana Peramuna in the Sri Lankan parliament from Polonnaruwa Electoral District.
Athukorala was born on 23 December 1964 in Ceylon. Details about his education and early career are limited in public sources.
Athukorala served as a Member of Parliament for the Polonnaruwa District. He was affiliated with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and also associated with the Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance.
On 9 May 2022, Athukorala was traveling through Nittambuwa with his police security officer during widespread violence linked to the 2022 Sri Lankan protests protests. Protesters blocked his vehicle, leading to a confrontation. Reports state that shots were fired, injuring two people. Athukorala and his security officer fled and sought refuge in a nearby building, where they were later attacked and killed by a mob.
In June 2023, the Attorney General of Sri Lanka filed indictments against 41 individuals in connection with the killings. On 11 February 2026, twelve individuals were sentenced to death by a trial-at-bar of the Gampaha High Court for the murder of Athukorala and his security officer. Four defendants received suspended prison sentences, while 23 others were acquitted. Capital punishment in Sri Lanka has not been enforced since 23 June 1976.
AthukoralaâÂÂs death became one of the most high-profile incidents of violence during the Aragalaya protests. The case highlighted the intensity of public anger against government figures at the time, as well as the legal systemâÂÂs reliance on CCTV, DNA, and facial recognition evidence in securing convictions.