February 05, Colombo (LNW): The Attorney General has delivered his legal opinion to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), advising that no further legal action be taken against three individuals, including a former army intelligence officer and a retired senior police official, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.
Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe (Jnr) issued the legal advice in a letter dated 27th January 2025, addressed to the CID Director.
In his correspondence, Ranasinghe stated that the prosecution has decided not to pursue any further charges against Sergeant Prem Ananda Udalagama, a former member of the Army Intelligence Unit, Sub-Inspector Tissa Siri Sugathapala, the former Crimes Officer-in-Charge of the Mount Lavinia Police, and retired Senior DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara.
These individuals had been named as suspects in the magisterial inquiry related to the 2009 murder of Wickrematunge, who was the Editor of The Sunday Leader.
The three suspects had been arrested and remanded in custody years ago on charges of allegedly obstructing the investigation and concealing critical evidence concerning the murder.
However, with the Attorney General’s recent legal guidance, they were released on bail, and now the prospects of further criminal charges appear to have been dismissed.
The legal opinion has been shared with the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court, with the Attorney General instructing the CID to submit a report on the matter within 14 days, updating the court on any progress related to the case.
In a separate but related development, Udalagama remains under suspicion for his alleged involvement in a different high-profile case — the 2009 assault on former Rivira newspaper Editor Upali Tennakoon.
This attack, which took place in the same turbulent period, has raised further questions about the extent of involvement by certain figures in Sri Lanka’s security and law enforcement apparatus during the years of conflict.
