15 years after the Wickrematunge murder, appeal for press freedom in Colombo

The murdered journalist was a great opponent of the then Rajapaksa government. The children at the grave ask that the pain be directed towards completing their father's work on press freedom and rights in Sri Lanka, while Amnesty International has called on the government to end impunity for his murder.

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Monday 8 January marked the fifteenth anniversary of the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge, founder and editor-in-chief of The Sunday Leader. At 9am, a memorial service was held at his grave in Borella Kanatte, where family, friends, former colleagues and others gathered to honor his memory. Wickrematunge, a leading figure in Sri Lankan journalism, was remembered for his critical position towards the then Rajapaksa government.

For the occasion, his children, Avinash, Ahimsa and Aadesh, released a statement: "We honor our father, we carry on his fight and we aim to realize his vision of transparency, impartiality, tolerance and freedom of speech in our country", they said.

“Our father was a peacemaker and a stalwart advocate for change. Today his name has become synonymous with the fight for human rights and freedom of the press and the pursuit of social justice and equality. For us he was also just our dad, kind and devoted, altruistic to a fault and lived his life for others. We grieve every time our family gathers and there is an empty seat at the table. We miss him every day. But even if our father is no longer here with us - they concluded -, it is important to direct our pain and anger towards the continuation of his work which remains incomplete".

Wickrematunge was one of Sri Lanka's most prominent journalists and Rajapaksa's most outspoken critic when on 8 January 2009, Wickrematunge was attacked by two armed men on a motorcycle during the morning rush hour while on his way to work. His death has shone a light on the risks that journalists run in the country in their search for the truth. His courage and dedication to the truth still set a standard today that continues to inspire journalists.

Yet, despite 15 years having passed, his killers have still not been caught and remain at large, a testament to the threat to free speech and the impunity often afforded to those who seek to silence it. This is why Amnesty International called on the Sri Lankan government to put an end to impunity for the murder of the journalist: “Lasantha Wickrematunge was murdered 15 years ago. Despite the government's assurances of solving the case at the national level, the investigation has stalled. So far, justice has eluded his family, who have continued their fight for responsibility for Lasantha's murder."