Military spy arrested over 2009 murder of Sri Lankan scribe Wickrematunga

A sergeant major attached to the Sri Lankan army intelligence has been arrested over the 2009 murder of the editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, police said on Saturday.

Updated on: Jul 16, 2016, 18:35:42 IST

By Anonymous, Colombo

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A sergeant major attached to the Sri Lankan army intelligence has been arrested over the 2009 murder of the editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, police said on Saturday.

Lasantha Wickrematunga was fiercely critical of the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s (pictured) government. (AP file)

Lasantha Wickrematunga was attacked by an unknown group in broad daylight on in January, 2009 as he was driving to his Colombo suburban office.

The group who had given chase to his car in motorcycles had attacked him with sharp weapons. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

Wickrematunga was fiercely critical of the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government.

Rajapaksa’s all-powerful younger brother, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had filed legal action for defamation against Wickrematunga at the time of his murder.

The investigation was revived after Rajapaksa lost the presidency in January, 2015 to Maithripala Sirisena.

The investigators have already arrested six military personnel before the latest arrest.

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.