The Attorney General has informed the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate's Court that his order directing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to release three key witnesses in the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder case has been temporarily suspended.
The decision to suspend the release was communicated to the court following a review of the case. The three individuals, who had been held as witnesses, were expected to provide vital testimony in the ongoing investigation into the 2009 murder of the prominent Sri Lankan journalist and editor.
The suspension comes amid growing attention and calls for a thorough investigation into the case, which remains unsolved despite years of legal proceedings. The Attorney General’s office did not provide a specific timeline for when the suspension would be lifted or further actions would be taken.
Wickrematunge, the founding editor of the Sunday Leader, was tragically gunned down in Colombo in January 2009, in what many view as an attack on press freedom. His death continues to spark debates on the safety of journalists and the pursuit of justice in Sri Lanka.
The court has adjourned further proceedings to allow for an in-depth review of the circumstances surrounding the decision to release the witnesses.
