The tragic assassination of Lasantha Wickramatunga continues to cast a long shadow, and the question of justice remains painfully relevant.
According to recent reports, Bimal Rathnayake, the Leader of the House, stated in Parliament that those responsible for the murder of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunga were in power in Sri Lanka some years ago. This statement came in response to MP Ravi Karunanayake's inquiry about the rejection of a parliamentary question regarding the Wickramatunga case.
Minister Rathnayake's statement implies a direct link between the perpetrators of the crime and the previous government. He emphasized that, despite their failure to bring the killers to justice, the current administration is committed to finding and punishing all those who have harassed journalists in the past.
But here's where it gets controversial... MP Karunanayake highlighted the fact that his question was intended to be raised on the 17th death anniversary of Wickramatunga. He expressed confusion over why questions related to the Wickramatunga case and other journalists were being prevented, while questions on the Easter Sunday attacks were permitted.
This raises an important question: Does the selective allowance of questions suggest a bias or a reluctance to fully address past injustices? The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in seeking accountability and justice for the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga and the broader issue of protecting journalists.
And this is the part most people miss... The commitment to finding and penalizing those who have harassed journalists is a critical step. However, the lack of progress in the Wickramatunga case, despite the change in government, raises concerns about the effectiveness of these efforts. The fact that the alleged perpetrators were once in power adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
What do you think? Do you believe that the current administration is doing enough to bring justice to Lasantha Wickramatunga and other journalists? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
