Cabinet Reviews AG's Controversial Recommendation on Lasantha

COLOMBO (News 1st); Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Attorney General's recommendation to release three suspects involved in the murder case of senior journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge is currently under review.

In response to this development, several media organizations have expressed strong opposition.

What is the Attorney General's Advice on the Lasantha Wickrematunge Assassination?

The Attorney General's advice on the Lasantha Wickrematunge assassination case has become a topic of significant debate.

The controversy stems from a letter sent by the Attorney General to the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on January 27.

The Attorney General informed that no further legal action would be taken against three individuals involved in the case: Prem Ananda Udalagama, Don Tissasiri Sugathapala, and Prasanna Nanayakkara.

A copy of the Attorney General's letter was also sent to the Magistrate of Mount Lavinia.

The Magistrate is required to inform the Attorney General of the actions taken based on this recommendation.

Who Are The Individuals Involved?

Prem Ananda Udalagama was a Former member of the Army Intelligence Unit, accused of abducting and threatening Lasantha Wickrematunge's driver, Devamullage Karunaratne.

He also faces charges related to the abduction and assault of journalists Keith Noyahr and Upali Tennakoon.

Don Tissasiri Sugathapala was the Former Officer-in-Charge of the Crimes Division at the Mount Lavinia Police Station.

Prasanna Nanayakkara is a  Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police.

Both Sugathapala and Nanayakkara are accused of destroying evidence related to Lasantha Wickrematunge's assassination, specifically the notes that were penned down in the diary found in Wickrematunge's vehicle at the time of his murder.

What Was The Reason for the Attorney General's Recommendation?

The Attorney General's Department said that Prem Ananda Udalagama was identified by Lasantha Wickrematunge's driver during a lineup, but the driver later claimed that the CID had shown him Udalagama before the identification process.

The Attorney General's Department cited insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges against Tissasiri Sugathapala and Prasanna Nanayakkara.

What Revelations Were Made In Court?

On June 1st, 2018, during the trial related to the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge, significant revelations were made regarding the second and third suspects, former Police Inspector Tissasiri Sugathapala and retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Prasanna Nanayakkara.

Attorney-at-Law Rasika Weerasuriya, representing Tissasiri Sugathapala, stated in court that Prasanna Nanayakkara, who was the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the area at the time, had threatened his client. The threat was to prevent investigations into the motorcycle numbers noted in Lasantha Wickrematunge's diary, which was found in his vehicle at the time of his murder.

The Attorney-at-Law further revealed that Prasanna Nanayakkara had warned that if the investigations continued, Tissasiri Sugathapala and his family could face the same fate as Lasantha Wickrematunge.

The Attorney-at-Law added that consequently, the relevant diary and investigation reports were handed over to Deputy Inspector General of Police Prasanna Nanayakkara by Tissasiri Sugathapala.