I have long admired and been in awe of Lasantha Wickrematunge. His was a life that was a display of courage, conviction, and an unyielding devotion to peace. A fearless fighter, Wickrematunge’s work was a paean to ethics, humanitarian ideals, and civil disobedience as the path to fairness while inspiring Sri Lankans to fight for a more just and equitable society.
It is an impossible task to capture the essence of such a remarkable individual whose life contained an unwavering zeal for humanitarianism. Bullets fired by cowardly assassins put an end to this incredible and eventful life that was a treasure of the nation. Wickrematunge was a giant, whose fearlessness and fight for his fellow Sri Lankans inspired millions of people both locally and beyond.
The sad fact that we all have to face the inevitable harsh reality of death did not lessen the profound sense of shock and loss we all felt at his passing on 8 January 2009. Yet Wickrematunge still holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Sri Lankans who mourned him and remember him as their unparalleled leader of social justice.
After studying his career and reading countless tributes to Wickrematunge over the years, the common opinion shared has always been that he was very charismatic and inspiring to anyone who had the privilege of interacting with him; he has been described as a man of great faith who was humble but also possessed incredible presence and exuded power.
Wickrematunge came from a privileged background. His father was Harris Wickrematunge, a politician who was Deputy Mayor, and he was the grandnephew of George E. de Silva, one of Sri Lanka’s founding fathers. Notably, his grandaunt Agnes de Silva was a pioneering women’s activist in the 1930s, championing women’s rights and suffrage in Sri Lanka. Wickrematunge’s aunt was the renowned architect Minnette de Silva and he was also a second cousin to Sir Desmond de Silva, who was married to Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia.
Hailing from Sri Lanka’s elite, Wickrematunge used his privileges to stand for the less fortunate. He was a peace-loving freedom fighter who promoted nonviolence and his choice of weapon was his pen.
Among the many accolades and honours bestowed upon him, he was awarded the 2009 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. It is easy to say that this one man accomplished more in his 50 years of life than most people will in multiple lifetimes. He opened doors that can never be closed and has surely left a lasting impact.
I may have my political differences with Wickrematunge, but that does not blind me to his exceptional qualities as a human being, politician, and journalist. He was a pioneer in media and many of the journalists who trained under him are now leading, influential figures in the field who are carrying on his legacy. Although Wickrematunge’s life was taken far too soon, his name continues to inspire and motivate those seeking a better future for Sri Lankans.
On the fateful day of his demise, while being trailed, a friend of his who was the last to speak to him had asked him to drive to the nearest Police station, upon which Wickrematunge had responded: “The most they can do is kill me.”
Soon after the attack, two delivery men who witnessed the assassination rushed to his aid and said that they did not recognise who the wounded person they were helping was until they reached the hospital and were shocked to realise that the injured person in the vehicle was none other than Wickrematunge.
Since then, there has been endless speculation about his murder with countless conspiracies. Justice was promised to the family by varying presidents and governments, but a new era of hope seems to finally be underway through the National People’s Power (NPP), with previous governments failing to deliver justice to Wickrematunge, his family, and the people of Sri Lanka.
Under the NPP Government’s commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability, there is now a sense of optimism that justice is at reach.