While the Government has pledged to initiate a fresh investigation into the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, it has yet to reach out to the Thajudeen family or their lawyer regarding the ongoing cases and the promised new probe, The Daily Morning learnt.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (26), Thajudeen family’s lawyer, Attorney Misbah Sathar stated that no authority, neither the Police Department nor the Ministry of Public Security, has contacted the family thus far regarding the matter. He further noted that in his capacity as the lawyer representing the family in the relevant lawsuits, he too has not been approached officially by any authority. 

Commenting on concerns about the appointment of Dr. Hans Wijesuriya as the Chief Advisor to the President on the Digital Economy, amid allegations of his involvement in suppressing key evidence in the murder investigation, Sathar said: “I have nothing to do with that. I am looking after the family’s interests. I appear for them when instructed. As far as I know, the family has not been contacted so far by anyone.” 

The dialogue surrounding the murder was renewed following the announcement by the National People’s Power Government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, to reopen investigations into high-profile murder cases, including Thajudeen’s. 

Thajudeen’s murder in May 2012 – initially portrayed as a car accident – remains one of the country’s most controversial criminal cases. Subsequent investigations revealed that Thajudeen had been brutally tortured before his body was placed in a burning vehicle to stage an accident. Allegations implicating individuals connected to influential political figures in the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government have fueled accusations of a cover-up. Despite years of investigation and public demands for justice, progress has been slow.