Laid to rest but not forgotten.

The funeral of slain Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramathunga was held yesterday (12) at Borella cemetery amid thousands of heartbroken and angry peoples.

Lasantha was an untiring fighter who wielded his pen against corruption and malpractices of the rulers until his untimely death. The majority of the participants of the cortege were chanting slogans cursing the killers. The chief slogan at the funeral procession was Ghathakaya - Satakaya (Shawl man is the killer).

The funeral parade was made active with the participation of thousands of present and past students of Lasanthas alma mater St. Benedict College - Kotahena, lawyers, opposition politicians and party members, media persons, trade union leaders and masses. Many wore a black ribbon and some gagged themselves with black and red cloths. Many more held black balloons in their hands. All of them looked protesting the killing heartily.

The road from Kirimandala Mawatha, Narahenpita to Borella cemetery was decorated with black and white flags in protest of the brutal assassination.

Media persons and trade union leaders took over the coffin of Lasantha at the cemetery round about. In the same time, a group of women were cursing the assailants splitting coconuts and chanting curse poetry.

With the coffin on the shoulders, the people took an oath against violence.

The oath was as follows;

The killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramathunga who executed his duty regarding the peoples right to know truth, safeguarding the values of journalism and humanity, proves that Sri Lanka has been spared only the hatred and acts of vengeance. This assassination can be considered an act that challenges the democracy and the peoples right to know the truth. We bow our heads and salute the courage Lasantha had to endeavor to build a fair, free and democratic society in Sri Lanka.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• lasantha wickramatunga
• unp
• ranil wickramasinghe
• ltte
• sri lanka army
• mahinda rajapakse
• sinhala songs
• sinhala films

[Dr196903]

UNP showing tribal politics..

What is the point Mahinda Killing Lasantha?

Had he wanted he would have done that long time ago. Absolute lack of comprehension, cheap stunts, addressing to the gallery, uneducated stunted journalistic souls..!!

One must feel sorry for this type of lame protests as this would take place only in countries like Sri Lanka.

When can Lankans remove the tribal mentality....??????????

[netlife007]

This fellow is killed by Mrs Mangalika and Mr Chandrika to set up Mahinda.

[singhashakthi]

Assembly of God lost a heroic fighter for their cause. Lasantha faught heroically to make Sri Lanka a non Buddhist country

may god rest his soul

[tamilgreat123]

again unp shows their bloddy low intelectual ability on the day of lasanthas funeral who was ltte.i humbly request unp plz behave as a main party in sri lanka in order to give a precious meaning to politics by removing the leadership first in the party barrister u.k.(middle temple)