[1][2] He was killed along with his bodyguards during a shootout within the same party rival group allegedly headed by MP Duminda Silva.

Due to his father's influence he became closely associated with leftist politics and became a Member of Kolonnawa Urban Council.

Representing the party in the first Provincial Council election in Sri Lanka, he became a PC member in the United Socialist Alliance.

Bharatha Lakshman was killed along with three of his bodyguards; Jalabdeen Mohammed, Emanuel Kumaraswamy and Damith Darshana Jayathilaka, in a shoot-out near the Walpola Junction.

The 13 who were accused were former parliamentarian Duminda Silva, Chandana Jagath Kumara, Lanka Rasanjana, Malaka Sameera, Amila Widanagamage, Suranga Premalal, Saman Kumara, Saman Abeywickrema, Rohana Marasinghe, Anura Thushara de Mel, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath alias Dematagoda Chaminda, Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Sarath Bandara; and Janaka Bandara Galagoda, who was tried in absentia because he was absconding (Court permitted the prosecutors to proceed, despite his absence because he had reportedly gone missing after being abducted by an unknown gang following the murder).

The twelve accused, including Duminda Silva, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out in the Court room.

Sentence of death was pronounced for five persons – Duminda Silva, Anura Thushara de Mel, Chaminda Ravi Jayanath alias Dematagoda Chaminda, Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Sarath Bandara and Janaka Bandara Galagoda; they were also fined Rs.