Explosive new leads have reopened the investigation into the 2012 murder of rugby star Wasim Thajudeen, after disclosures made by SLPP local politician Sampath Manamperi, who is currently detained under a 90-day order for alleged involvement in a massive drug case.
Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed that interrogations of Manamperi, linked to the seizure of two containers of chemicals suspected for manufacturing the synthetic drug “ICE,” have shed fresh light on the long-stalled Thajudeen case. Investigators are now pursuing new evidence and connections exposed during questioning.
Responding to claims from the opposition that the renewed probe is a “witch-hunt” against their MPs, Dr. Jayatissa dismissed the accusation. He stressed that only those actually tied to the murder have reason to fear the ongoing inquiries. “If someone feels they will be arrested, it is easy to call it a witch-hunt. But the truth is, only those linked know their connections. The responsibility of the investigative bodies is to uncover those links,” he said.
The Thajudeen case has remained one of Sri Lanka’s most controversial unsolved crimes, often clouded by allegations of political cover-ups and manipulation. The reopening of the probe based on Manamperi’s testimony could mark a turning point, potentially exposing powerful figures who have long evaded accountability.
Sri Lanka now waits to see whether justice for Wasim Thajudeen will finally be delivered more than a decade after his brutal killing.
