Lasantha Wickrematunge

Quick Facts

Full Name	Lasantha Wickrematunge
Occupation	Journalist
Date Of Birth	Apr 5, 1958(1958-04-05)
Age	66
Date Of Death	January 8, 2009, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Birthplace	Colombo
Country	Sri Lanka
Birth City	Western Province
Horoscope	Aries

Lasantha Wickrematunge Biography

Lasantha Wickrematunge is one of the most popular and richest Celebrity who was born on April 5, 1958 in Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka.

In 1994 Wickrematunge started the Sunday Leader with his brother Lal Wickrematunge. He reported critically on both the government and the Tamil Tiger (LTTE) rebels, and the Leader soon “became well known as the island’s best independent newspaper”. He later stated that once the paper was started, he had intended to return to law, but found himself unwilling to give up journalism’s excitement. He was also a reporter for Time magazine and was a political commentator and hosted several programs including Good Morning Sri Lanka.

The paper quickly drew threats and attacks for its reporting on corruption by government ministers. In 1995, men pulled Wickrematunge and his first wife, Raine, out of their car and attacked them with clubs. Raine later stated that the death threats became part of the routine of their lives: “There were so many threatening calls. ‘We are going to kill you. We are going to kill your children.'” In 2000, the government tried Wickrematunge for criminal libel of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, but Wickrematunge received no major penalties. In 2002, Raine left him due to the constant threats against their family, taking their three children to Australia.

Lasantha Wickrematunge Net Worth

Lasantha Wickrematunge is one of the richest Journalist from Sri Lanka. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Lasantha Wickrematunge 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge (5 April 1958 – 8 January 2009) was a Sri Lankan journalist, politician and human rights activist who was assassinated in January 2009.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Lasantha Wickrematunge height Not available right now. Tom weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Lasantha Wickrematunge Dating?

According to our records, Lasantha Wickrematunge married to Raine Wickrematunge. As of December 1, 2023, Lasantha Wickrematunge’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Lasantha Wickrematunge. You may help us to build the dating records for Lasantha Wickrematunge!

Wickrematunge was shot while he was on his way to work around 10:30 a.m. on 8 January 2009 few days before he was supposed to give evidence about Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s corruption in arms deals before a judge. Four armed assassins riding motorcycles blocked Wickrematunge’s vehicle before breaking open his window and shooting him. He was taken to the Colombo South General Hospital (Kalubowila). It was initially planned with a helicopter on standby to transfer him to the Colombo National Hospital. A specialist team of 20 of medical personnel were called in for the surgery. Despite surgery lasting nearly three hours, Wickrematunge died from his head wounds.

Facts & Trivia

Tom Ranked on the list of most popular Celebrity. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Sri Lanka. Lasantha Wickrematunge celebrates birthday on April 5 of every year.

After Mahinda Rajapaksa’s defeat at the presidential election in 2015, the new government of President Maithripala Sirisena reopened the investigation over allegations that former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered the assassination.

Top Facts about Lasantha Wickrematunge

1. Lasantha Wickrematunge was a Sri Lankan journalist born in 1958.
2. He founded the Sunday Leader newspaper in 1994.
3. Wickrematunge was known for his investigative journalism and criticism of the government.
4. He was assassinated in January 2009 while driving to work.
5. His murder remains unsolved and has been widely condemned by human rights groups.
6. In 2009, he posthumously received the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize.
7. Wickrematunge’s death is considered a symbol of press freedom violations in Sri Lanka.
8. The Sunday Leader continues to operate under new ownership after his death.
9. He was married with three children at the time of his death.
10. Wickrematunge’s legacy lives on through his impactful journalism and advocacy for free speech and democracy in Sri Lanka.