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LTTE chief gets 200 years in jail in bombing case

Judge Sarath Ambepitiya found him guilty, along with three others who are also absconding, of conspiracy, and aiding and abetting the crime.

The four were sentenced to 200-year terms on 51 counts. All the sentences will run concurrently.

However, LTTE intelligence chief Pottu Amman and three others were acquitted of all charges.

Only two suspects were available for trial and both were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sri Lanka's criminal law permits the trial of suspects even in their absence.

The verdict came even while the government and the LTTE began their second session of peace talks in Thailand.

A truck laden with explosives had rammed into the Central Bank building, close to the president's official residence, on January 31, 1996.

The explosion killed 76 people and injured hundreds. It was among a series of blasts engineered by the rebels in 1996.

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