Lasantha was a Fearless Editor who Spoke Truth to Power

Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge was brutally assassinated in broad daylight on a public road in Ratmalana

He was not unaware of the dangers he faced. He had encountered innumerable problems in the past

After Richard de Zoysa was killed during the time of President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Lasantha was among the journalists whose lives were threatened. He went to Australia where he stayed for some time

From Chandrika Kumaratunga to Mahinda Rajapaksa, the highest in the land were all targets of his journalistic archery

Finally the end came in a gruesome fashion. In the Sri Lanka of old the barbarians were at the gates. Now they were inside the gates occupying positions of power

He was fully aware of the problems faced by the minority ethnicities in Lanka. He had particular empathy for the Tamil predicament

The sleuths probing the Lasantha killing and other media related offences were replaced. Many were transferred or demoted. Some were penalised