Sixteen years ago, on a day like today, Sri Lanka lost one of its bravest voices. Lasantha Wickrematunge, a journalist whose fearless reporting challenged corruption and impunity, was brutally silenced. His murder remains an unresolved scar on the nation’s conscience, and for his family, the pain is as fresh as ever.
Speaking about his brother’s loss, Lal Wickrematunge, Lasantha’s elder sibling, recalls the heartbreak of that fateful day. “Lasantha’s children lost their father when they were still very young. We lost a brother, and my parents had to bury their youngest child. How cruel was that?” he said, lamenting the inhumanity of those who orchestrated and carried out the killing.
“The killers, though known to some investigators, are yet free,” Lal said. “Those who covered up the tracks of the murderers have risen to high positions in security and police. Karma has dealt with some, and for others, it may not take long.”
A Legacy of Injustice
Over the years, four successive governments have failed to deliver justice. Lal accuses the political establishment of deliberately stalling investigations and shielding the perpetrators. “We were fooled time and again. Initially, we believed justice would come with a change in government. But both sides of the political fence played the same game—your turn, then mine. The system was corrupt, and murder was carried out with impunity,” he said.
Lal recalls the emptiness of promises made by Lasantha’s so-called political allies. “They did nothing while in power. People didn’t care as long as they weren’t affected, and society became apathetic. No society can survive like that. The Aragalaya uprising was inevitable.”
The MiG Deal Connection
Lal points to Lasantha’s investigation into the controversial MiG aircraft deal as the likely motive behind his brother’s murder. The Defence Secretary at the time had filed a defamation case against Lasantha and The Sunday Leader, testifying under oath that the deal was between governments.
“Now we know it wasn’t,” Lal said. “He even called it the cleanest deal in Sri Lanka. The truth is out there. Lasantha’s murder was meant to bury it, but it hasn’t worked.”
The Family’s Grief
For the Wickrematunge family, the grief lingers. “He was the youngest of us—three sisters and two brothers,” Lal said. “Sixteen years have passed, and yet we grieve as if it happened yesterday.”
Lal describes the worst moment of his life: calling his parents to tell them, “I couldn’t save him.” The loss is compounded by the knowledge that justice has been denied for so long.
Renewed Hope for Justice
Renewed Hope for JusticeHowever, Lal expresses cautious optimism under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The President has signaled his intent to tackle entrenched impunity by reinstating former CID DIG Ravi Seneviratne and CID Director Shani Abeysekera, both of whom played pivotal roles in investigating Lasantha’s murder.
“Our family is waiting for justice,” Lal said. “Karma may act sooner, but we hope the law does too. Sixteen years is too long.”
A Plea to the President
Speaking directly to the country’s leadership, Lal urged the President to prioritize justice for Lasantha. “The single reason the killers and their enablers remain free is the lack of political will,” he said. “Mr. President, we need closure—not just for our family, but for a country still struggling to reconcile with its past.”
Sixteen years on, the tears still flow. But with justice, perhaps they can finally stop.
