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Sunday Leader Editor shot dead
by Norman Palihawadena, Dilanthi Jayamanne and Harischandra Gunaratne

Editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper and veteran journalist Lasantha Wickramatunge, who was shot by an unidentified gunman yesterday around 10.45 a.m. at Attidiya Road, Ratmalana, succumbed to his injuries around 2.10 p. m. at the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.

He was 50 years old and the father of three children. Wickrematunge was driving his car at the time he was shot.

Dr. Anil Jasinha, Director of the Hospital, said a team of neuro surgeons, who were specially rushed to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, battled for three hours to save his life.

From the time he was admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital, Dr. Jasinghe had described his condition as critical each time The Island contacted him to inquire.

At one stage, around 12.45 p.m., a special ambulance was kept at the ready to rush Lasantha to the National Hospital, but since his condition was unstable doctors at Kalubowila decided to keep him in the operating theatre with life support and had a team of neuro surgeons from the National Hospital rushed to Kalubowila.

Wickrematunge had severe brain damage at the time he was admitted to hospital since the assassin had shot through the glass shutters right at his head.

He had been repeatedly shot at by a gunman on a motorcycle, who blocked his path near the Malagala Model School, on Attidiya Road, Ratmalana. He was driving to the Sunday Leader office at Templars Road Mount Lavinia from his residence at Nugegoda.

According to Police, Wickramatuga s killers, four in number, arrived at the scene on four motorcycles and after the first man shot him the second man bludgeoned the victim with a blunt weapon and fled the area. The two men stopped their motor cycles at a distance and were watching the scene, eye witnesses have told Police.The victim was rushed to the hospital by the Police with the assistance of residents of the area.

Police said that there was evidence the slain journalist had been trailed by his killers all the way from Nugegoda and pounced on after he reached the particular spot on Attidiya Road, which is a lonely area.

'For a number days, Wickramatunge s movements to and from office had been followed by certain elements,' Police said.

According to Police, Wickramatunga had complained that he had been threatened with death over the phone on a number of occasions.

A few years ago, Wickramatunge was assaulted by an unidentified gang which blocked his vehicle on a narrow lane when he was returning after work.

Up to date police has failed to track down the assailants.