AG directive to drop charges in Lasantha Wickrematunge murder sparks outrage

Wednesday, 5 February 2025 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe

Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe’s decision to release three key suspects in the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has ignited controversy, raising concerns over the Government’s commitment to justice for crimes against the press.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from media rights activists and civil society groups, who accuse authorities of failing to uphold accountability despite repeated assurances.In a letter dated 27 January 2025, now public, the Attorney General’s Department informed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that legal proceedings would not continue against Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama, former Mt. Lavinia Crimes OIC SI Tissasiri Sugathapala, and former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara.

The CID has been instructed to report back on its actions regarding the matter within 14 days of receiving the letter.

Among the three suspects, Udalagama—a former sergeant major in military intelligence—was identified in court by Wickrematunge’s driver as the man who abducted him following the journalist’s murder. The identification took place before the Mt. Lavinia Additional Magistrate on 7 July 2016.

Sugathapala, according to CID reports, was the officer who recovered a notebook from Wickrematunge’s car, which contained registration numbers of motorcycles that had pursued him before his assassination. Nanayakkara was accused of destroying the notebook, thereby concealing and tampering with crucial evidence.

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