Assassinated Journalist knew perpetrators in Avissawella killings - MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 July 2006, 10:28 GMT]
Sinhala journalist Lakmal Sampath was murdered because knew the suspects in the murder of five youths believed to be Tamils whose mutilated headless bodies were found in Avissawella area in the South on 27 April, alleged the Colombo District parliamentarian of the Upcountry Peoples' Front (UPF), V. Radhakrishnan, during the debate on the extension of the State of Emergency in the Sri Lanka's Parliament Thursday, parliamentary sources in Colombo said.

The UPF parliamentarian quoted main opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian from Puttalam District, Ranga Bandara, who had questioned the government why a Lieutenant of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and his close associate alleged to have been involved in the murder of Sinhala journalist Lakmal Sampath were not arrested yet.

"The identities of the suspects involved in the murder of the Sinhala journalist are now exposed. We have come to know that an army lieutenant and an associate were connected with the murder Mr.Lakmal Sampath. The reason for the killing is Mr.Lakmal Sampath knew the identities of the perpetrators of Avissawella killings," Mr.Ranga Bandara told the parliament.

Meanwhile, a police official who wished to remain anonymous, has told media circles in Colombo that a Military Intelligence officer including two soldiers, were arrested by a police team in Mount Lavinia Wednesday.

However, no one has yet been produced in court, legal sources said.

Mr Radhakrishnan added that innocent Tamil civilians are being murdered in the North and East and in Colombo under the State of Emergency. Members of the State armed forces and Intelligence Unit are engaged in extra-judicial killings. Now, an army lieutenant is linked with the killing of Lakmal Sampath, he said.

"Although Mr.Lakmal Sampath was a Sinhalese he was killed for knowing the suspects connected with the murders of five Tamil youths. Therefore the Government should order for an inquiry into the murder of the Sinhala journalist," Mr.Radhakrishnan said.

At the commencement Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Prime Minister, tabled in the parliament, a motion to extend the State of Emergency for another month.