By A. J. A. Abeynayake

The Attorney General has temporarily suspended his previous directive to release former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Prasanna Nanayakkara and two other suspects accused of suppressing evidence pertaining to the assassination of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge.

As a result, the suspects will not be discharged at this stage, according to a written notice sent to the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court yesterday (13th).

In a letter signed by Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, dated 11 February 2025, it was stated that the decision had been taken to further review the instructions previously issued to the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on 27 January. Consequently, the court will not proceed with the release of the three suspects, namely former military intelligence officer Prem Anand Udalagama, former Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Mount Lavinia Police Crimes Division Hettiarachchi Don Thissasiri Sugathapala, and former DIG in charge of the Mount Lavinia Division, Vitharana Arachchi Sirimewan Prasanna Nanayakkara.

Earlier, based on the investigations conducted thus far, it had been determined that there was insufficient evidence to pursue legal action against these suspects. As a result, on 27 January 2025, Attorney General Ranasinghe issued a letter instructing the Director of the CID to inform the court that the suspects could be discharged from the case. However, following widespread media coverage and strong criticism from both Lasantha Wickrematunge’s family and the public, President Ranil Wickremesinghe reportedly intervened, summoning the Attorney General.

Yesterday (13th), Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Keerthisinghe and Chief Inspector Ilangasinghe from the CID submitted the Attorney General’s revised instructions to the court. Consequently, Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chathurika Silva ordered the case to be postponed until 30 May.