Charles Haviland Colombo correspondent

	Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunghe

Lasantha Wickrematunga was the editor of an investigative paper, the Sunday Leader, and to date no one has been charged with his killing.

The case was one of several recent ones which, according to human rights campaigners, have instilled a climate of fear into Sri Lankan journalists and prompted a climate of self-censorship.

In his paper Mr Wickrematunga had attacked many figures including government ones.

He had criticised aspects of the war, then reaching a climax; but also reported alleged scandals involving people’s private lives.

Many who mourned him blamed the government or security forces.

At the time, Rauff Hakeem was an opposition politician and joined the big crowds protesting at the death.

	Crowds at Lasantha's funeral in 2009

He is now Minister of Justice and says that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was shocked and concerned by the killing.

He saw to it that he was rushed to the hospital and he was provided with the maximum medical attention possible during that short period while doctors struggled to save his life.

Although the Terrorist Investigation Division has now taken over the murder investigation, there’s been little progress.

In a key interview last year the defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, brother to the president, linked the former army chief, Sarath Fonseka, to the murder.

He said, “we know there was no other person”. However, among the many legal charges now brought against the former general Fonseka, none is linked to the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunga.

Sixteen soldiers from Sri Lankan military intelligence were held for several months but then released.

The editor of the Sunday Island newspaper, Manik de Silva, doubts whether there is genuine official resolve to investigate.

	Protest in Colombo condemning assassination

"I think that they make progress in cases [where] they are interested in making progress. And there is a suspicion – and I too subscribe to that view – that no progress is made in cases where there is little will to get to the bottom of something. ", he said.

The only people now in custody in connection with the killing are a supplier of mobile SIM cards said to have been used by the gang of murderers, and a soldier he named as a friend or acquaintance.

No one has been charged.