Suspects in Lasantha murder released on bail

Two of the main suspects in the murder of senior journalist and Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, former Senior DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara and former Crimes Officer-in-Charge of the Mount Lavinia Police, Sub-Inspector Tissa Sugathapala, were granted bail by Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate Mohamed Mihail yesterday.

The duo were granted bail on condition that they appear before the CID on the last Sunday of every month.  The Magistrate also imposed a ban on the two suspects and ordered to hand over their passports to the Court.

Former Editor Wickrematunge was murdered on January 08, 2009 in Attidiya, Ratmalana, en-route to his office.

The Magistrate released each suspect on Rs. 50,000 cash bail and two sureties of Rs. 1 million each.

Former Crimes Officer-in-Charge of the Mount Lavinia Police Sub-inspector Tissa Sugathapala was taken into custody by the CID on 2 February and retired Senior DIG Prasanna Nanayakkara was arrested on 13 February this year.

The Magistrate fixed the inquiry for 29 September.