Lasantha Wickrematunge killing

No breakthrough in investigations yet

By Nirmala Kannangara 

The police on Friday said that public assistance sought for a breakthrough into the killing of The Sunday Leader Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge had been ‘unsatisfactory.’

Police Media Spokesperson SSP, Ranjith Gunasekera told The Sunday Leader that although the investigating teams were able to record the evidence of eyewitnesses, they had failed to provide the registration numbers of the motorcycles used for the attack.

“The general public is not co-operating with the police to make a breakthrough. We would therefore  have to depend on the circumstantial and scientific evidence for a breakthrough. If so it would definitely take a longer duration before we make a breakthrough,” Gunasekera said.

According to Gunasekera, the investigating teams need to evaluate the evidence they record, as the courts would otherwise reject the facts presented by the police.

“We have to be very careful when producing evidence to court and since there are 10 more days for the next hearing we hope to receive some sort of clue to the assassination,” the SSP said.

When asked whether the Mt. Lavinia Police had released Wickrematunge’s car and his belongings found in the vehicle to his wife as instructed by the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate, Gunasekera said that the car has been handed over, but failed to say whether all the articles retrieved from the car were handed over.

“If there were blood stains or any other foreign object found on the articles then the police would not return them back as they could give scientific evidence which would be very powerful for a breakthrough. As a result I do not know whether the articles found in the car were returned or not,” Gunasekera claimed.

He further stated that the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate on February 5 would decide whether the investigations would be handed over to the CID or the Mt. Lavinia Police would proceed with the investigations.

When asked whether the Mt. Lavinia Police had released Wickrematunge’s car and his belongings found in the vehicle to his wife as instructed by the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate, Gunasekera said that the car has been handed over, but failed to say whether all the articles retrieved from the car were handed over.

“If there were blood stains or any other foreign object found on the articles then the police would not return them back as they could give scientific evidence which would be very powerful for a breakthrough. As a result I do not know whether the articles found in the car were returned or not,” Gunasekera claimed.

He further stated that the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate on February 5 would decide whether the investigations would be handed over to the CID or the Mt. Lavinia Police would proceed with the investigations.

Attempt to divert attention say activists

The attack on Rivira Editor, Upali Tennakoon could be an attempt to divert attention from the killing of The Sunday Leader Editor, Lasantha Wickrematunge, media activists said last week.

Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu while condemning the attack on Tennekoon said that the attack could be a ploy to divert the attention on the murder of Wickrematunge, who was killed on January 8.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Dr. Saravanamuttu said that any incident would overshadow a previous occurrence. “But, this might well be a part of the plan of the attackers.”

“The message is clear that the media is under siege. But, the key point here is that the government should hold independent investigations into these attacks or else it will lose its credibility,” Saravanamuttu added.

Rivira Editor, Tennakoon and his wife Dhammika Tennakoon were on their way to work from their home in Imbulgoda, Gampaha when they were attacked by unknown persons who had come on motorbikes last Friday morning.

Wickrematunge was also attacked in similar fashion on the Attidiya Road, while on his way to work.

Tennekoon was injured on his face while his wife received injuries on her hand, according to officials. Both have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

Colombo National Hospital Director, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe told The Sunday Leader on Friday that both were receiving treatment at the hospital. However, he said that there were no life threatening injuries to both.

“Both have not received any life threatening injuries. But, they have been admitted to the hospital for further treatment.”

Meanwhile, two police teams have been deployed to carry out investigations into the attack on Tennakoon and his wife last Friday.

He said that investigations were already underway. “No developments have been reported so far,” SSP Gunasekara said on Friday.

JVP to go to the districts

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The JVP is to take the protest campaign against media suppression to the districts.

The JVP together with the Working Journalists’ Association, Intellectuals for Human Rights, University Teachers for Human Rights and the Patriotic National Centre has decided to hold a series of protest campaigns and awareness programmes islandwide to muster the support of the people against media suppression and the need for democracy.

The first in the series of rallies was held last Monday (19) in Nugegoda.

JVP sources told The Sunday Leader that a series of seminars have been organised at district level to create awareness among the people of the media suppression and threat to democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, the main opposition UNP last Tuesday (20) organised a meeting of leaders and representatives of several opposition political parties, including the SLMC, SLFP (M) Wing, DPF and New Left Front among others, NGOs, trade unions, rights groups, media heads and lawyers to form a front against suppression of freedom.

The new front is to campaign across Sri Lanka in support of the right to life and freedom of expression. A steering committee was appointed at the meeting to coordinate the future course of action to support the right to life and freedom of expression. The three conveners appointed to the committee are Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Attorney J.C. Weliamuna, and rights activist Nimalka Fernando.

The committee that met on Friday (23) discussed the structure of the coalition that would form a people’s movement for democracy in order to preserve the right to life and freedom of expression.The committee is to meet this Tuesday (27), to form the general body and the consultative committee.

Lasantha honoured in US House of Representatives

Slain Sunday Leader Editor, Lasantha Wickrematunge was honoured by Congressman Adam Schiff last Thursday on the Floor of the United States House of Representatives by reading excerpts of his last editorial. 

Schiff is one of the co-founders of the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press. Since its inception in 2006, the caucus has highlighted the importance of free expression around the world. 

“I rise today to honour, Lasantha Wickrematunge, a brave journalist who was gunned down while driving to work in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. Threats, attacks, and murders of journalist are becoming all too common in Sri Lanka.   Wickrematunge knew the dangers well, but courageously continued reporting,” he said.

Schiff also read excerpts of his final editorial published posthumously.  Meanwhile, Britain last week also joined in condemning the killing of Wickrematunge.

British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband in a statement last week condemned the killing of Wickrematunge and said that it was the duty of the authorities to take prompt action into these incidents.

“We condemn such brazen attacks. Of particular concern was the murder, on  January 8, of the Chief Editor of The Sunday Leader newspaper, Lasantha Wickrematunge. The Sri Lankan authorities have a duty to take prompt action to ensure that a thorough and independent investigation is carried out,” Miliband said.

He also pointed out the reports of abductions and disappearances in the country.

Heavy damages to the LTTE says Ministry

The Defence Ministry yesterday reported fierce fighting between security forces and the LTTE Northeast of Kalmadu and Nethiliaru, South of the A-35 Paranthan-Pooneryn main road.

The Ministry stated that the battles had left scores of terrorists killed and many injured. Fighting broke out with terrorists when 58 Division infantry and armour battalions forced into remaining LTTE defences at the battle frontier, security sources have said.

According to the Ministry, terrorists had suffered heavy damages as the military onslaught rattled tightly fortified LTTE defences causing terrorists to flee.

Meanwhile, LTTE terrorists have blasted off the Kalmadukulam Tank bund yesterday morning. The Ministry stated that the terrorists have used high explosives and triggered the detonation flooding a section of the A-35 Paranthan - Pooneryn main road, Ramanathpuram, Dharmapuram and Visvamadu.

US appalled by attacks on media personnel in SL

The United States State Department has said it is appalled by the continuous physical attacks and threats against media personnel in Sri Lanka.

Acting spokesman Robert Wood in a media note has said “the serious reports of media attacks in Sri Lanka are disturbing indicators of the deteriorating atmosphere for media independence in Sri Lanka.”

A free and independent media is vital to ensuring the health and continuation of any democracy, he has said.

Alles and Basnayake released

The Attorney General last week withdrew all criminal charges filed against former Civil Aviation Chairman Tiran Alles and Finance Director, CBE Dushyantha Basnayake.

They were indicted before the Colombo High Court for allegedly assisting a relative of a LTTE member to purchase a house.

The charges against both Alles and Basnayake were withdrawn subsequent to the Supreme Court considering fundamental rights petitions filed by both of them claiming serious infringement of their fundamental rights.

On December 4, 2008, the Supreme Court instructed the lower court to suspend the legal process set in motion against Alles and Basnayake.

Interim comm. for FMM

The entire committee of the Free Media Movement (FMM) voluntarily resigned on Tuesday (20), at a specially convened General Meeting. In its place an interim committee has taken over who will function until May this year when the Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held.

Chulawansa Srilal has taken over as the new FMM Convener. Former Convener, Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, Secretary A. Rushangan, Treasurer Kasun Yapa Karunaratne and a committee comprising six other journalists resigned from their posts on Tuesday (20).

Meanwhile, Kurukulasuriya, media activist Sunanda Deshapriya, journalists Poddala Jayantha and Sanath Balasuriya all left the country last week. Apart from

Kurukulasuriya, who is believed to be attending a conference overseas, Deshapriya, Jayantha and Balasuriya have all left citing security fears and a threat to their lives. The FMM is a media freedom watchdog organisation of journalists.