The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed serious concerns over the Sri Lankan government’s purported lapses in accountability regarding the 2009 killing of investigative journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. On February 20, CPJ publicly condemned the authorities for dropping charges against key suspects in the case, a move seen as perpetuating an “alarming record of impunity” for journalist killings in the country.
- Lasantha Wickrematunge, then editor-in-chief of The Sunday Leader, was renowned for his critical journalism scrutinizing government corruption and human rights abuses. Tragically, he was murdered on January 8, 2009, in Colombo, attacked by assailants on motorcycles in broad daylight.
- In a prophetic editorial published posthumously, Wickrematunge predicted his own death, underscoring the perilous environment for journalists in Sri Lanka at the time. “Countless journalists have been harassed, threatened, and killed,” he had written. “It has been my honour to belong to all those categories, and now especially the last.”
Aggravating the distress for those seeking justice, the lead investigator on the case, Nishantha Silva, presented evidence in May 2022 before The People’s Tribunal on the Murder of Journalists in The Hague. These sessions hinted at possible connections between the murder and the then-defense secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, though he has consistently denied the allegations.
This case has seen a buildup of domestic and international demands for accountability. Ahimsa Wickrematunge, Lasantha’s daughter, took legal action in 2019 by suing Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a US court, though the case was later dismissed on grounds of common law immunity.
The United Nations and its entities have underscored that the right to life and freedom of expression are enshrined in international law. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights specifically mandates that states should protect these rights and prosecute violations. Despite this, a 2021 report indicated there have been no convictions for many attacks on journalists during and post Sri Lanka’s civil war.
In light of these developments, CPJ’s recent call to action reflects ongoing international scrutiny and demands for reforms in Sri Lanka’s approach to press freedom and accountability. With both political and human rights implications, the principle of press freedom continues to face significant challenges in this context.