WO arrested over Lasantha killing

The Criminal Investigation Department(CID) conducting investigations into the assassination of journalist and newspaper Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge arrested a Warrant Officer (WO) attached to the Arrmy Intelligence unit in connection with the assassination, sources said yesterday.

CID sources told the Sunday Observer that the arrest was made at CID headquarters when he was summoned to obtain a statement over Wickrematunge’s assassination.

Lasantha Wickrematunge, founding editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper was assassinated in January 2009. Initially the then government run by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the military was blamed for the assassination.

The Police Media Division said the suspect was arrested on charges of abducting the driver of the vehicle in which Wickrematunge was travelling at the time of his assassination and unlawfully detaining him and questioning him after the assassination incident.

The Army personnel were due to be produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrates Court yesterday.

Military Spokesman Brig. Jayanath Jayaweera said the Army was informed about the arrest of Warrant Officer I by the CID but declined to comment.

The CID in 2015 recommenced investigations into Wickrematunge’s assassination, after investigations hit a snag during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime without any progress or any arrests being made relating to the murder.

In February this year, police released sketches of two persons suspected to be involved in the assassination.

The Mount Lavinia Magistrate on May 30, considering a request made by the CID ordered the Army Commander to hand over documents and other information relating to the investigation into the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge to the CID.

The CID has requested the court order because of the failure of the Directorate of Military Intelligence to cooperate in the investigation into Lasantha’s murder.

 (RW)