September 29, Colombo (LNW): The family of former national rugby player Wasim Thajudeen has called on the current administration to relaunch investigations into his controversial death, claiming that the truth has been deliberately obscured for over a decade.
The renewed plea comes amidst growing public frustration over unresolved high-profile cases, and hopes are now pinned on the Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led administration to break the longstanding deadlock.
Speaking to reporters, a close relative of Thajudeen recounted the events of May 2012, when authorities initially reported the athlete’s death as the result of a routine car accident. According to the relative, police at the time claimed Thajudeen had been speeding, under the influence of alcohol, and had died after inhaling smoke from a vehicle fire.
However, the family never accepted that version of events. “When I reached the site, I found him seated in the passenger seat. The vehicle wasn’t even seriously damaged. It made no sense—how could anyone have died in such a minor collision?” said the uncle, clearly emotional.
It wasn’t until several years later, under a different political administration, that doubts about the original account were officially acknowledged. A panel of seven court-appointed forensic specialists exhumed Thajudeen’s remains and determined that his death was neither accidental nor alcohol-related. Their findings pointed instead to a far more disturbing truth: the young sportsman had been subjected to torture and then set alight.
The revelation sparked public outcry at the time and briefly reignited hopes for accountability. Yet, despite the gravity of the forensic conclusions, no significant legal action followed. The trail went cold once again.
“Every government since then has made promises, but none have delivered,” said the uncle. “We are not seeking revenge—only justice. It’s been thirteen long years, and we still have no answers.”
He further questioned the motive behind the brutal killing, suggesting it may have been linked to Thajudeen’s high public profile as an athlete. “What was the reason? Was it envy, or something more sinister? He was just a young man with a passion for rugby. We deserve to know why this happened.”
Expressing cautious optimism, the family voiced hope that the current leadership would bring the case back into focus. “We still believe in the legal system. But if even this government turns a blind eye, then what hope is left—not just for us, but for any family seeking justice in this country?”
Calls for a fresh inquiry have found support amongst human rights advocates and civil society groups, who argue that impunity in such cases undermines public trust in the justice system. The Thajudeen case has long been viewed as emblematic of deeper institutional failures—where truth is often buried beneath political convenience and legal inertia.
