Complaint Filed Against Attorney General Over Lasantha Wickrematunge Murder Investigation
A formal complaint has been lodged with Sri Lanka's Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against incumbent Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, alleging abuse of office in connection with the long-unsolved murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.
The complaint, submitted on 06 July 2026 by Nagananda Kodituwakku, General Secretary of the Vinivida Foundation, alleges that Attorney General Ranasinghe issued an unlawful direction on 27 January 2025 to the Sri Lanka Police Criminal Investigation Department to release three suspects who were in custody in connection with the Wickrematunge murder investigation.
The Allegations
According to the complaint, the Attorney General subsequently reversed this decision on 12 February 2025 following significant public outrage, directing police not to release the said suspects. The complaint alleges that the initial direction was issued "for the purpose of conferring an unlawful benefit upon the three suspects and, consequently, upon the principal suspect, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa" – the former President who has long been implicated in the journalist's murder.
The Wickrematunge case remains one of Sri Lanka's most prominent unsolved murders. The outspoken editor of The Sunday Leader was assassinated on 8 January 2009, and despite numerous investigations and promises from successive governments, justice has remained elusive. Investigations in 2015 uncovered evidence linking sections of the security establishment to the murder, including Special Forces intelligence officers from the Tripoli army camp.
RTI Commission Involvement
The complaint details that on 24 February 2025, in the public interest, the Attorney General was requested to provide certified copies of the 27 January direction letter. However, Ranasinghe refused the request, claiming it constituted "privileged communication" to which he claimed legal entitlement.
When proceedings were instituted against him before the Right to Information Commission on 21 April 2025, and following an inquiry on 25 February 2026, the Commission directed the Attorney General to provide certified copies of the requested information to the Vinivida Foundation for the purpose of considering proceedings under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Refusal to Comply and Legal Challenge
The complaint alleges that despite this "lawful and unequivocal order" from the Right to Information Commission, Mr. Ranasinghe refused to comply. Instead, he challenged the order by filing a Petition and Affidavit in the Court of Appeal on 24 March 2026.
Significantly, the complaint notes that the Attorney General supported the application before the Court on 27 May 2026 on an ex parte basis, without notice having been served upon the complainant. It was only on 9 June 2026 that the Attorney General filed a Notice in Court, which was subsequently served on 12 June 2026.
"The Attorney General, who refuses to abide by the rule of law," according to the complaint, had this conduct brought to the attention of the Court of Appeal by a motion filed by the Vinivida Foundation on 3 July 2026.
Legal Framework
The complaint alleges that these acts fall within the definition of "corruption" under Section 111 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023. It requests CIABOC to conduct an "independent, impartial, and credible investigation" into the alleged abuse of office by the Attorney General and to keep the Vinivida Foundation informed of progress in accordance with Section 44 of the Anti-Corruption Act.
Background Context
The murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge has been a defining moment for press freedom in Sri Lanka. His famous "Letter from the Grave," published posthumously, continues to resonate with journalists and advocates for accountability. The case has seen key investigators like CID Director Shani Abeysekera incarcerated and Inspector of Police Nishantha Silva forced to flee the country, while successive governments have failed to deliver justice.
CIABOC's Role Under Scrutiny
The complaint comes at a time when CIABOC's effectiveness as a check on executive power has been questioned. Research has outlined how the commission's contribution falls short of global standards, with concerns over executive intervention in the appointment of Commissioners and prosecution processes handled by the Attorney-General's department creating "an appearance of bias".
The Vinivida Foundation's complaint now places CIABOC under pressure to demonstrate its independence and effectiveness in holding senior government officials accountable, particularly when the allegations involve the nation's chief legal officer.
The Commission is expected to respond to the complaint in accordance with its statutory obligations under the Anti-Corruption Act.