Murder of Sivaram led to international condemnation

In a special session held to debate the murder on Friday, TNA’s parliamentary group leader R Sampanthan urged a panel to be appointed from SAARC and Commonwealth countries.

The government however refused to entertain the request, journalist Daya Lankapura told BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala).

“TNA did not ask for an international probe even when their leader A Amirthalingam was killed. Why now?” Minister of Constitutional Affairs DEW Gunasekara queried.

The debate lacked the expected heated exchanges and there was no quorum in the house, Lankapura said.

Abducted

But the debate continued as the party leaders agreed to go ahead without the quorum.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP), supporting the motion, said the government should take responsibility.

This shameful crime has led to a great loss for Sri Lankan journalism and for UNESCO UNESCO

“There is no peace process as the government has failed to start peace talks with LTTE. Sivaram would still be alive has there been peace,” UNP parliamentarian Rajitha Senarathne said.

Sivaram was kidnapped from outside a Colombo restaurant late evening on Thursday 28 April.

He was later found dead with gunshot wounds. A former Tamil militant, Sivaram became a journalist and was a senior editor of the pro-Tamil Tiger rebel news website, Tamilnet.

International condemnation

The murder led to international condemnation.

“This audacious and brutal crime is an attack on free speech in Sri Lanka,” CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said in a statement.

Sivaram would still be alive has there been a peace process UNP

“We are profoundly saddened and angered by this coward murder,” Agnes Callamard, executive director of Article 19 told BBC Sandeshaya (BBC Sinhala).

Japan and United Nations joined the international condemnation.

"This shameful crime has led to a great loss for Sri Lankan journalism and for UNESCO,” UNESCO Director General Koïchiro Matsuura said.

Condemning the murder "unreservedly”, the government said it had ordered an investigation into the killing.