Sri Lanka’s Attorney General Reverses Decision in High-Profile Assassination Case Amid Public Outcry
Sri Lanka’s Attorney-General, Parinda Ranasinghe, has unexpectedly reversed his previous decision to drop charges against three key suspects in the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. The reversal comes amid mounting public pressure and calls for his impeachment.
In a sudden turn of events, Ranasinghe instructed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) through Senior Assistant Solicitor General Rohantha Abeysuriya to disregard his prior directive from January 27, 2025.
The withdrawn order had sought the release of Premanand Udalagama, a former military intelligence officer, and Prasanna Nanayakkara, the then-DIG of the area, both of whom had been implicated in the murder and accused of obstructing the investigation. A third suspect, police inspector Sugathapala, was also included in the discharge order.
CID Pushback and Legal Questions
The CID reportedly resisted the Attorney General’s initial directive, submitting a detailed argument against releasing the suspects before completing the investigation. They also questioned Ranasinghe’s legal authority to unilaterally order their discharge without first obtaining an official report on the case status.
Allegations of Evidence Suppression
The case has long been marred by allegations of evidence tampering. Military intelligence officer Udalagama was accused of abducting Wickrematunge’s driver and threatening him into silence. Meanwhile, Nanayakkara was arrested in 2018 for allegedly suppressing critical evidence, including Wickrematunge’s notebook, which contained the registration numbers of motorcycles tailing him on the day of his assassination.
Despite efforts to erase evidence, junior police officers had secretly preserved copies of key records, which resurfaced at the CID nearly nine years later.
Pattern of Controversial Decisions
Ranasinghe’s initial move to discharge the suspects in the Wickrematunge case follows a broader pattern of controversial decisions. He previously dismissed charges in the 2020 Mahara Prison massacre, in which 11 inmates were killed and 117 wounded. Additionally, he ordered the release of an STF officer suspected of extrajudicial killing.
Impeachment Threat and Political Fallout
Amid widespread backlash, Wickrematunge’s daughter, Ahimsa, called for Ranasinghe’s impeachment, citing his alleged mishandling of the case. The government reportedly debated the issue at the highest levels, leading to Ranasinghe’s abrupt reversal.
Attempting to rally support, Ranasinghe sought backing from the Legal Officers’ Association, which issued a statement defending him. However, by the time their statement was released, the Attorney General had already rescinded his controversial order—leaving his allies in an awkward position.
This dramatic episode raises concerns about judicial independence and political interference in Sri Lanka’s legal system.