JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 14, 2025 at 02:08 pm | IFJ Media Release
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COLOMBO—Justice continues to be denied 16 years on from the assassination of editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, with Sri Lanka’s Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe ordering the release of the three suspects detained in relation to the journalist’s murder. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Sri Lankan affiliates, the Federation of Media Employees’ Trade Unions (FMETU), Free Media Movement (FMM), and Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), in strongly condemning the Attorney General’s actions in further delaying justice for Wickrematunge’s murder and calling on the government to take strong and immediate action to end Sri Lanka’s rampant impunity for crimes against journalists.
In a letter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on January 27, Attorney General Ranasinghe issued a letter on January 27 stating that no further legal action would be taken against the three suspects in Wickrematunge’s case, number B 92/2009, currently being heard at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court. Ranasinghe also directed the CID to submit a progress report within 14 days after presenting the update to the magistrate court, which will decide on the Attorney General’s recommendation.
The three suspects, currently released on bail, include Don Tissasiri Sugathapala, the Officer-in-Charge of the Crime Division at the Mount Lavinia Police Station at the time of Wickrematunge’s assassination, Prasanna Nanayakkara, the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Mount Lavinia area, and Prem Anand Udalagama, a Staff Sergeant in the Sri Lanka Army.
In a statement on February 7, the Attorney General’s department that the decision was related to a separate case involving Wickrematunge’s driver, and the murder case remained ongoing. However, the three released suspects had been accused of influencing witnesses, withholding and destroying critical evidence, and suppressing the investigation into Wickrematunge’s murder, among other charges, with many media rights and legal groups asserting that they hold the essential information to identify the key perpetrators of the killing.
A senior Sri Lankan journalist and editor of newspaper The Sunday Leader, Wickrematunge was assassinated by four assailants who remain unknown on January 8, 2009, with the gunmen stopping him on his way to his office and opening fire. He was a vocal critic of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government and at the time of his murder was involved in a legal fight with Rajapaksa’s brother, the then-defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The journalist gained prominence for his political opinion columns and investigations exposing government corruption and abuses during the final years of the civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE).
The Attorney General’s actions have been widely condemned by journalist organisations and media rights groups, expressing profound concern at the release of key figures involved in the murder case and the continuing culture of impunity for crimes against journalists in Sri Lanka. Ahimsa Wickrematunge, Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter, condemned the decision as a deliberate abuse of power and called for the impeachment of the Attorney General.
In January, the Attorney General’s department also discharged suspects from the high-profile Mahara Prison massacre in 2020, where 11 inmates were killed and a further 117 injured, despite efforts by the Welisara Magistrate to prevent the ruling.
The FMETU said: “By releasing these suspects, the real masterminds behind the murder are also being protected. Prem Anand Udalagama has also been accused of influencing witnesses, among other charges. It is alarming that the current Attorney General, under a government that came to power with a public mandate to hold criminals accountable, is taking steps to ensure impunity in such a serious case. The media community is closely monitoring the developments of the Lasantha Wickrematunge assassination case and strongly demands justice.”
The FMM said:“FMM demands a transparent and independent inquiry into the Attorney General's decision and urges the government to take immediate action to ensure that justice is not denied. The continued failure to deliver accountability not only dishonours Lasantha’s memory but also endangers press freedom in Sri Lanka.We also call on authorities to expedite the process of establishing an Independent Prosecutor to handle cases of crimes against journalists and human rights defenders. Without a credible and independent mechanism, justice will remain elusive, and impunity will continue to thrive.”
The SLWJA said:“We call upon the Executive President—who publicly vowed during his campaign to hold perpetrators of serious crimes accountable—to ensure that political influence does not interfere with the independent judiciary. Those responsible for these crimes must face the full force of the law. Furthermore, we urge all relevant authorities, including the Executive President, the Minister of Justice, and the Sri Lanka Professional Journalists' Association, to stand firm in upholding justice. Crimes committed against journalists and media organizations must be prosecuted without bias or political interference, regardless of rank or affiliation. The culture of impunity must end.”
The IFJ said: “IFJ calls on the Sri Lankan government to take immediate and decisive action to end the longstanding culture of impunity surrounding the murder of journalists and deliver justice for Lasantha Wickrematunge. His assassination remains a glaring example of the risks faced by those who dare to speak truth to power and is a stark reminder of the ongoing dangers confronting journalists in Sri Lanka. The Attorney General and local authorities must reverse this decision, ensure a thorough and transparent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable, and take swift and meaningful steps to guarantee the safety of journalists across the country.”
Photo caption: Mourners light candles at the grave of assassinated senior journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, to commemorate the 16th anniversary of his death, in Colombo on January 8, 2025. Credit: Ishara S. Kodikara / AFP
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