2 suspects produced in court over journalist Lasantha killing

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 30 March 2010, 17:21 GMT]
Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) officials Tuesday produced two suspects allegedly involved in the killing of Sunday Leader founder editor Lasantha Wickremathunge and the alleged abduction and attacks of Rivira Editor Upali Tennakoon and Deputy Editor of the English weekly Nation Keith Noyhar, in the Colombo additional Magistrate court. The additional Magistrate Sujeeva Nissanka ordered continuous detention of the suspects under the detention order issued by the Ministry of Defence, legal sources said.

The suspects were Pichchai Jesuthasan of Mastota Estate, Nuwara Eliya and Kandegedara Piyawansa of Katuwana in Nuwara Eliya.

They are accused of the assassination of Mr. Wickremathunge, assault and attempted murder of Mr. Tennakoon and abduction and attempted murder of Mr. Noyhar.

The Terrorism Investigation Unit officials told court that the attacks were carried out by the suspects to cause disrepute to the government.