Obituary: Sri Lanka’s Brave Editor

The murder of Lasantha Wickramatunga, 51, a fearless and outspoken Sri Lankan editor, by unknown gunmen on January 8 brings to light the hazards faced by journalists who take their profession seriously.

Here is a tribute to Wickramatunga in South Asia’s wellknown magazine HIMAL: “On 9 January, Himal Southasian, Kathmandu held a meeting in memory of Lasantha Wickramatunga.

“At a well-attended gathering, tribute was paid to Lasantha for continuing with his fearless and bold writing, on the war as well as on the rampant corruption in the Rajapaksa regime, in the face of long-standing threats.

“The media in Sri Lanka has long dealt with harassment, beatings, abductions and operated under the threat of death.

“Despite such grave threats – from the political establishment, the military and the LTTE – sections of the Sri Lanka media continue to report on the excesses of both the rebels and the state, exposing themselves to even greater danger.” More here…

And here is another tribute by a wellknown Sri Lankan journalist, Nalaka Gunawardene, to his former colleague…See here…