Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Pro-Tamil Tiger editor shot dead in Colombo
Share:
by Sanjay Jha | January 7, 2009 at 11:49 pm
649 views | 23 Recommendations | 12 comments
Photos
The editor of a pro Tamil english weekly the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wikramtunga has been shot dead in Sri Lankan capital Colombo. In past, he was arrested by Rajapakse's government for writing a story about the construction of a bunker at Sri Lankan President's official residence.
Lasantha Wikramatunga, the chief editor of the English Weekly, which is critical of the Rajapaksa government was shot by unknown gunmen Thursday morning around 9:30 a.m. while he was on his way to work, initial reports from Colombo said. Mr. Wikramatunga was rushed to Kalubowila hospital in critical condition. The newspaper and its editor as well as the editor of Morning Leader have been harassed and threatened continuously during the last three years. All Leader publications are very critical towards the government and exponents of opposition political views.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Sanjay Jha
New Delhi, India
Recommendations (23)
chanaka
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Anonymous user
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (12)
at 05:38 on January 8th, 2009
Journalism is more then ever a dangerous profession and freedom of expression is rapidly disappearing.
at 11:16 on January 8th, 2009
As far as I know Lasantha Wickramatunge was more critical of the '94 Chandrika Kumaratunga government than the present Rajapaksha government.
Current school of thought on my mind and almost everyone I spoke to is, who gains most by this killing? Government just scored big with winning Kilinochchi. Would they risk getting a bad name by killing Lasantha plus Attacking a media house just 3 days ago? Why would they do it at this point? Govt and Opposition (Ranil Wickramasinghe's party) are both preparing for Provincial Council elections right now.
at 02:46 on January 15th, 2009
better read and see information before penning down on just what is reported...
the man knew he is the target next and pretty soon
at 09:33 on January 8th, 2009
RANIL IS A LOSER!!! can bet on nytin dat ranil did all this,
at 14:42 on January 8th, 2009
For how many days you are going to say "unknown gunmen" ???
It is know.. all know who did.
There is no freedom for srilankan people untill Rajapakse family goes out of power.
Family ruling, is always risk and leads violance in all countries.
Srilankan, people wake up... tomorrow may be youuuuuuuuuuuuu
at 02:02 on January 9th, 2009
Sanjay Jha !
You must be Joking !
"Mahindas latest Murder victim, Lasantha Wikramatunga" ??????
I just saw this title now on your video. You are pathetic. Who are you to give verdict on who killed Lasantha? What do you know about the situation in Sri Lanka other than the titbits you take from the internet?
Are you a journalist? I have no idea what you are. But trying to get a name by doing these cheap things is not the way to go.
at 02:16 on January 9th, 2009
"Journalists in Sri Lanka have suffered a string of recent attacks and media freedom groups say intimidation and violence make it one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to report." -BBC
media freedom groups - there was one group and it's main guy Sunanda Deshapriya was recently expelled from his own media movements for corruption. "Media freedom fighters" are the laughing stock in Sri Lanka and people know them for what they are.
It is really sad how foreign media and persons who write in news sites like this one, without knowing heads or tails of the politics in Sri Lanka, without doing proper research or investigations, throw opinions and accusations around.
I accidentally stumbled on this news site, when Sanjay Jha invited 2 of my photographs on flickr for the Kilinochchi victory story, but I write now because I can see people who have no idea at all about what goes on in Sri Lanka, write and give opinions. I am an ordinary Sri Lankan citizen, any of you cannot know more than what we know.
Sirasa attack, and now Lasantha W killing, both came after Killinochchi victory. And just when both Govt and Ranil Wickramasinghe's party are getting ready for Provincial Elections. What would Govt gain by these 2 incidents right at this moment?
Sanjay Jha,
Do not talk Bull without getting your facts straight. I mistakenly thought that you must be a good journalist.
at 11:18 on April 22nd, 2009
You talking a lot about Sri Lankan government, I am student i have small question to you.
are you a henchman of the government or who are you working for. you realy don't know whats going on in the north. First learn to think as an intellectual person before you talk. Lasantha W. tried to show the truth of both government and LTTE parties. He was murderd by the government, because they saw him as a terrorist and a person who botherd their national security. the punishment for a free writer is death in Sri Lanka it's not right.
you are a dumb person.
at 02:36 on January 9th, 2009
@ Sanjay Jha,
You're better than Sherlock Holmes. You probably figured out the perpetrators of the crime before the bullet shells hit the floor. (or should I say before an American could say "Lasantha Wickramatunga")
If it was not for war, corruption, murder conspiracies and curtailment of the rights Media personnel and Journalists cry out for, they will be writing pages and pages about traffic accidents. Is that the life you envisage? If you don't sensationalize things you can't sell them. So doesn't matter whoever who did the crime, pin it on the govt. Is that the freedom of the press you want? is that responsible journalism (which mediamen conveniently sweep under the carpet)
your youtube clip is just horsetrash!
at 00:45 on January 14th, 2009
Dear Hiranya,
The government must have won the battle but not the war. The government has so much blood on there hands and they don’t know how to wash it off. The only way to clean up is to kill anyone who threatens or seen as a treat to Rajapakse and Co. You are so blinded by hatred. Mr. Lasantha was always under treat from the Rajapakse family. It’s not about wining the next election; it’s about the hunger for power and money. Mr. Gotabaya and Co only wants to make sure they can drain the country dry and have stranglehold on power for long as possible. I can only see this country heading to be another Zimbabwe. May god forbid it from ever happening. Lasantha is going to be remembered forever because he was even bigger than life. He was a person who spoke on behalf of those people who cannot and certainly you weren’t one of them.
Regards,
KRM
at 04:10 on January 14th, 2009
*Sorry for the typing mistake; It is surposed to "Threat and not treat":)
at 18:58 on January 29th, 2009
Both Indian Politicians and Sri Lankan Politicians are taking Sri Lanka and their people to a never ending war situtation.
History speaks volumes that when people do not like a Government and raise against it, you have to tread cautiously. But SL Govt. has gone about with its iron hand with American and Indian leaders support and have started walking on dead corps of tamils. Lakhs of ghosts from the dead will now rise and there will be no sleep to many living in Sri Lanka including Rajapakshe.
Lots of repenting prayer and good souls are the need of hour if at all Sri Lanka has to see a peaceful country. Bad men thrust with power. Sins committed by bad peoples either it is Sinhalese or Tamilians have to suffer. For the last 30 years Satan has taken over the Sri Lankan Government. Unless the powerful God is pleased with prayers from good souls and good people either it is Sinhalese or Tamilians, God will not come for help to chase this satans. For God to come each individual has to change, give importance to human lives. Show love on fellow human beings. Love and only love on human beings is need of the hour. The sweetness and happiness in love can be realised only who have experienced it. It again is a God given gift. Love can't fail. But hatred will bring misery. Angry will eat the person in and out. Ask Rajapakshe and you will know until his death there will be no peace to him. In his previous birth he has committed sin, so God has rejected him and satan has taken over him. Now only a powerful and good soul where God resides will be able to overpower the satan that is inside Rajapakshe to chase it out. But for this Rajapakshe should have done at least one good deed to the people either in his previous birth or in this birth unless that period gets invoked he will never meet the Sadhu or the God.
Thus Rajapakshe will only have to live wearing mask of victory but defeated in his real life taking along more sins. The next birth of his will be worse, he has to suffer. And these cause and effect is the same for everyone, either it is you or me. Rajapakshe is only the tool in the hands of Satan. Satan is born to give punishments and now punishments are given to Sri Lankan Tamilians. So Sri lankan tamilians have committed sins in their previous births hence they are suffering. There is no escape.
It is better that we realise ourselves for what we have come to live in this world and not give ourselves into the hands of Satan. Chase the satan in you by doing good deeds and invoking the power that is within your soul and heart. Very difficult task indeed.
To start with LOVE, LOVE AND LOVE and then you will see the change in yourself and will know what is this life and so sweet is this life. Then you will be able to see the beautiful things in the nature and all around you.
Again to start with start the LOVE.. first within your family, love your wife, husband, sons, daughters, parents then love your neighbour, then spread the waves of love to the people in your street, spread the waves of love in your city, spread the waves of love in your country, in your neighbouring country and the people living in the whole world. Then you will realise how sweet is this world to live with. You will then be decease free person, an aura will encircle you, with powerful magnetic field. People coming near you will get an urge to fall in your feet. You are GOD.