The family of assassinated Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge has expressed hope that the Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led government will find the truth behind the incident and provide justice.

Speaking to the media, Lasantha Wickrematunge’s brother said there were four governments within the 16 years since the death, but none had a political motive to investigate the incident.

He said, however, the National People’s Power (NPP) government has promised to investigate not only Lasantha Wickrematunge’s death but several other high-profile cases as well.

“Initially, the case was under the TID, with major speculation that it was done by the LTTE. However, following the change in regime in 2015, our lawyer requested the case to be transferred to the CID. It was then transferred to the CID, of which Shani Abeysekera was a part.

“The probe conducted by the CID uncovered several key facts related to the death, even up to the extent of knowing the names and addresses of those who had been involved in the murder,” he said.

Lasantha Wickrematunge’s brother said under this government, with Shani Abeysekera returning to the CID, there need not be a fresh probe and it only remains for them to finish the investigations into the incident.

He added that the family and close associates of Lasantha Wickrematunge believe this government will find the truth.

His comments come on the 16th death anniversary of the late Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, commemorated today (Jan 08).

General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organization, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera has been sentenced to 9 months simple imprisonment by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court for insulting the religion of Islam.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara extended an apology for inadvertently addressing the Speaker as ‘Your Honour’ in Parliament today.

Claiming that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not made any objections to the proposed public sector salary increment, Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said today the government will go ahead with the proposal and provide a significant salary increment in the upcoming budget.

Claiming that no HMPV cases have been detected in Sri Lanka recently as reported by certain media, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today that the Health Ministry is on alert and assured to inform the people if any person infected with the virus was detected in the country.

While Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekera alleged that the President's Secretary had issued a circular prohibiting Ministers from meeting heads of foreign missions without the permission of Foreign Affairs Minister, Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake denied the claim and said he had met a diplomat yesterday.

The Appropriation Bill for 2025 was presented to Parliament by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya a short while ago.

The members of Trishaw Operators Associations in Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Habarana areas yesterday staged a massive protect against the arrest of six trishaw drivers on charges of assaulting a car driver transporting a tourist and over robbery of a gold chain.

A two day debate on the 'Clean Sri Lanka' programme will be held in Parliament on January 21 and 22, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told the House today. She said more information on the 'Clean Sri Lanka' programme will be communicated to MPs during this debate.

The free distribution of 20 kilos of rice per person by the previous government before the Presidential election has resulted in the shortage of red rice in the market, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said today.

According to the Examinations Department, the evaluation of the answer scrips of the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination is scheduled to begin today (08).

The government will formulate a mechanism to stop foreigners who engage in business activities while on tourist visas, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said today.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is increasingly likely to announce he intends to step down, though he has not made a final decision, a source familiar with Trudeau's thinking said on Sunday.

An eight-month-old baby in Bengaluru is suspected to have tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), marking the first suspected case in India.

The Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith specifically urged the government to introduce a new Constitution which brings in national unity.

The expenses for the tea party hosted during the inauguration of the 10th Parliament was higher as the cost of the goods and services had gone up in the market, Parliament said while clarifying reports on expenses for the tea party hosted during the inauguration.

The Sri Lanka Navy has reported significant achievements in its 2024 operations, seizing over 622kg of heroin, valued at Rs. 15.55 billion and more than 1,211kg of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE), worth Rs. 11.5 billion.

The government is aiming to increase the quality in the tourism sector just as quantity in order to attract high-end tourists to the country, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath said.

Agriculture and Livestock Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne participated in the launch of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme at the Agriculture Ministry premises in Battaramulla on Wednesday.

Exams Chief Amith Jayasundara yesterday said the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination paper marking meeting had been scheduled for tomorrow. The marking process is expected to conclude within 40 days, with the aim of completing it by the first week of February.

The Constitutional Council (CC) has approved the appointments of High Court Judges K.M. Sarath Dissanayake and Pradeep Hettiarachchi to the Court of Appeal. The nominations were submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for the CC's approval. Judges Dissanayake and Hettiarachchi, the two most senior serving High Court judges, are set to take their oaths as Court of Appeal Judges next week.