Kids speak out on the 15th death Anniversary of murdered Journalist
Today, the 08th of January marked the 15th anniversary of the assassination of well-known Journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Sunday Leader, with a memorial service at his graveside in the Borella Cemetery this morning. To mark the occasion Lasantha’s kids Avinash, Ahimsa, and Aadesh issued a statement and read out at Lasantha’s graveside memorial at the General Cemetery.
“Let us honour our father and carry his torch and fulfill his vision of transparency, impartiality, tolerance, and liberty in our motherland,” they said.
The investigation into Wickrematunge’s murder has yielded no tangible results thus far and his killers still roam free, 15 years later.
Murdered Lasantha’s Family, friends, former colleagues, and others gathered at Borella Cemetery at 9 a.m. to mark the 15th anniversary and remember Lasanth Wickrematunge.
The statement issued by the family members of Lasantha Wickrematunge, was read out by his kids.
“Our father was a peacemaker and a valiant crusader for change. Today, his name has become synonymous with the fight for human rights and press freedom and the pursuit of social justice and equality,” they said.
“To us, we knew him only as our kind and dedicated father, our loving support system who was devoted to our family, selfless to a fault and lived his life for others. We grieve for him every time our family gathers and there is an empty seat at our table. We miss him every day.”
Kids said that the Sri Lanka has faced dark times since their father’s demise.
And they mentioned that their father would have been proud of the ‘Aragalaya’ and those who marched on in the tradition of his message and in his spirit, resisted tyranny at the risk of their own safety.
They also said that their family thanks all those who continue to love their father and have supported them in the pursuit of justice over the years.
“Though our father is no longer here with us today it is important that we direct our grief and our anger into meaningful action and continue his work that remains incomplete.”
“Let us honor our father and carry his torch and fulfill his vision of transparency, impartiality, tolerance and liberty in our motherland.” They said.
Assassinated on 08 January 2009, Wickrematunge was one of Sri Lanka’s leading journalists and an outspoken critic of the then Rajapaksa Government. He was attacked as he drove to work and later died of his injuries. The brazen attack was carried out by two gunmen on motorcycles in the morning in rush-hour traffic.
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