Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe

Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe’s decision to release three key suspects in the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has ignited controversy, raising concerns over the Government’s commitment to justice for crimes against the press.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from media rights activists and civil society groups, who accuse authorities of failing to uphold accountability despite repeated assurances.In a letter dated 27 January 2025, now public, the Attorney General’s Department informed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) that legal proceedings would not continue against Army Intelligence Officer Premananda Udalagama, former Mt. Lavinia Crimes OIC SI Tissasiri Sugathapala, and former DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara.