A-five-judge bench of the Supreme Court presided by Chief Justice Asoka N. Silva yesterday acquitted the five soldiers sentenced to death by the High Court Trial-at-Bar in the case involving the murder of 11 persons in Udatalawinna on the day of the 2001 General elections.

The Trial-at-Bar discharged former Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte and two of his sons along with a few others who were also indicted in the in the High Court.

The five soldiers acquitted yesterday were produced in Court by prisons authorities.