Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayathissa announced that the government is carefully reviewing the Attorney General’s decision to drop charges against three suspects linked to the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.
“The government has no plans to cover up this issue or allow guilty parties to go unpunished. We are committed to ensuring justice for the people of this country. A thorough review will be conducted, and we will uphold the trust placed in us by the public,” Minister Jayathissa assured.
The Attorney General’s move has sparked widespread criticism from media organizations and human rights activists, who argue that it appears to shield perpetrators from accountability.
This controversy intensified after the Attorney General’s Department confirmed that it would not pursue legal action against the three individuals involved in the case.
Addressing journalists’ concerns about delays in similar high-profile investigations, the Minister clarified that procedural and technical challenges, rather than political interference, were the primary reasons for delays in certain cases.
On January 27, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe formally informed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that legal proceedings against former Army Intelligence Officer Prem Ananda Udalagama, former Mt. Lavinia Crimes OIC SI Tissasiri Sugathapala, and former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara would be discontinued, allowing their release.