Lasantha Wickrematunga was attacked by an unknown group in broad daylight on in January, 2009 as he was driving to his Colombo suburban office.
The group who had given chase to his car in motorcycles had attacked him with sharp weapons. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Wickrematunga was fiercely critical of the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa's government.
Rajapaksa's all-powerful younger brother, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had filed legal action for defamation against Wickrematunga at the time of his murder.
The investigators have already arrested six military personnel before the latest arrest.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
