Attorney General Suspends Release of Suspects in Lasantha Murder Wickrematunge Case
The Attorney General has notified the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court to temporarily suspend the previous directive concerning the release of three suspects implicated in the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.
This suspension comes amid heightened public concern and calls for a thorough investigation into the 2009 murder. The Attorney General had earlier advised the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) that legal proceedings would not continue against former Army Intelligence Officer Prem Ananda Udalagama, former Mount Lavinia Crimes OIC SI Tissasiri Sugathapala, and former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara.
In response to criticism, the government has pledged to review this recommendation, with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya affirming a commitment to securing justice for Wickrematunge’s family. Earlier, in a letter to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Ahimsa Wickrematunge, daughter of the late journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, had called for the impeachment of Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe. She accused him of gross neglect of duty and abuse of power following his decision to release three key suspects in her father’s murder case.
During former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure, the term “Reverse Gazette Syndrome” became popular, referring to the frequent issuance and subsequent rapid cancellation of government gazettes. This pattern led to public confusion and criticism over the government’s inconsistent policy decisions.
