Editor and Thomson Foundation alumnus shot dead in Sri Lanka

A leading Sri Lankan journalist shot dead in Colombo as he drove to work was a former Thomson Foundation alumnus.

Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickramatunga (52), who was a vociferous government critic.

Mr Wickramatunga’s killing was one of two recent attacks on the media. Sri Lanka is regarded by media freedom groups as one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to report because of intimidation and violence.

He was also a presenter on a weekly current affairs programme for MBC, the country’s largest private broadcaster. MBC has been criticised by the government for its coverage of the war against the Tamil Tigers. Mr Wickranaunga and the Sunday Leader were also critical of government policy.

Lasantha Wickramatunga trained for three months with the Thomson Foundation in the UK in 1988 with fellow journalists from small Commonwealth states, funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

“He was a very personable young man, popular with the other students and always willing to help others who weren’t perhaps as good as he was,” recalled former course leader, Val Williams.

Thomson Foundation chief executive Janet Boston said that the Foundation was deeply saddened by Mr Wickranatunga’s death, as a personal loss to his family and as a champion of a free press.