The Attorney General’s Department has denied allegations that it was responsible for the release of three suspects linked to the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga, clarifying that the recommendation to drop charges pertains to a separate case involving the abduction of Wickramatunga’s driver, who was an eyewitness in the investigation.
In an official statement, the department emphasized that the investigation into Lasantha Wickramatunga’s murder remains ongoing and has not been closed. However, due to procedural shortcomings and a lack of substantial evidence, a decision was made regarding three specific suspects who were not directly linked to the murder itself.
The statement further explained that the cases of Lasantha Wickramatunga’s murder and the abduction of his driver were filed under the same case number (92/2009), leading to confusion. It was clarified that Prem Ananda Udalagama, one of the suspects, is being released due to insufficient evidence to proceed with legal action against him.
The other two suspects, Hettiarachchige Don Tissasiri Sugathapala and Vitarana Arachchige Sirimevan Prasanna Nanayakkara, were initially implicated in the disappearance of a crucial field notebook belonging to Wickramatunga. This notebook allegedly contained motorcycle registration numbers of individuals who had been following the journalist before his murder.
Despite the concerns raised, the Attorney General’s Department stated that there was no legal basis to continue prosecuting the three individuals. As a result, the decision was made to release them and drop further legal action.
While this development has sparked renewed public debate and scrutiny, the Attorney General’s Department reiterated that the investigation into the assassination of Lasantha Wickramatunga is still ongoing, and any new evidence will be taken into account to ensure justice is served.
