Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday Jan 09, 2025
Thursday, 9 January 2025 01:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
At a time marking the 16th anniversary of the brutal assassination of the former Editor of the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, the National People’s Power (NPP) Government assured bringing the killers to book soon.
Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said in Parliament yesterday that justice for Wickrematunge’s murder must be done and the Government is committed to do him justice.
Responding to an inquiry by MP Rauff Hakeem on pending cases of killing and torturing journalists, Nanayakkara said inquiries were going in the right direction and they would be handled in the correct way.
“The NPP Government always respects the independence of the judiciary, Attorney General’s Department and related prosecuting authorities. We will facilitate the process,” he said.
The Justice Minister further said the Government had removed all hindrances to those investigations unlike previous political regimes, and will provide the fullest support to bring justice.
It was reported that on 8 January 2009, Wickrematunge was shot by four unidentified gunmen on motorcycles while he was driving to work.
Hakeem, who visited the Borella Cemetery to mark the 16th anniversary of his death, said that for the last several years, they went to the cemetery to light candles, but his death still remained a mystery while four Presidents ruled the country and could not bring him to justice.
He strongly criticised the silence of the AG’s Department and the Police over Wickrematunge’s investigation and also other pending investigations into attacks on Keith Noyahr, Upali Tennakoon, and others.
“However, we heard that investigations into attacks on Noyahr and Tennakoon have been completed and need to be completed soon. A fair trial should be held for Lasantha’s killing,” he stressed.
Urging the Government to ensure the protection of journalists, Hakeem said that journalists should not be subjected to intimidation.
