Lasantha murder: body of the retired army officer to be exhumed

The body of the retired army officer who was found hanging at home with a suicide note claiming responsibility for the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge will be exhumed today.

Ada Derana reporter said that the body will be exhumed following an order issued by the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s Court in the presence of Kegalle Magistrate Gihan Meegahage.

The body of the retired officer was found at his home in Kegalle last week, with a suicide note stating that he was responsible for the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and asked for the release of the army intelligence officer who is currently under arrest over the murder.  

Wickrematunge, former editor-in-chief of the Sri Lankan weekly The Sunday Leader, was murdered on his way to work in January 2009. Last month, Sri Lankan police also exhumed the body of the slain journalist as part of a new investigation into his death.