By Saroj Pathirana BBC Sinhala service

	Hirunika says Sri Lanka is among top countries where there is no law and order

Hirunika Premachandra said her family will have no other option but to seek international justice if the country fails to find justice for the killing of the presidential advisor.

It has been the practise of the Sri Lankan government, for which Mr Premachandra also worked, to brand dissidents –especially who sought international justice – as traitors of the country.

Listen to the interview

“I am not afraid of traitor label as I love my country more than those who would call me a traitor,” Ms Premachandra told BBC Sandeshaya from an undisclosed location outside Sri Lanka.

Mr Premachandra was shot dead last month in a shoot out between the supporters of the rival factions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition.

Appeal to president

“What other option do we have if there is no law and order in Sri Lanka ?”

	The defence secretary has said that Duminda Silva 'not a known underworld king pin or drug dealer'

A court in Colombo recently issued a warrant for the arrest of Duminda Silva, the monitoring MP for the defence ministry who was seriously wounded in the shooting.

Ms Premachandra who said the ruling had restored her faith in the judiciary, appealed to the president not to allow the murder investigation to be undermined.

“This is not a threat but an appeal to the president. If this is undermined Sri Lanka will be known in international community as a country where there is no law and order,” she told BBC Sinhala service.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has, meanwhile, countered widespread allegations against Mr Silva by saying he was "not a known underworld king pin or some drug dealer - he's an elected MP".

Sri Lanka's attorney general earlier withdrew child rape charges filed in high court against Duminda Silva but the then chief justice, Asoka de Silva, told BBC Sandeshaya that AG was “wrong” to withdraw charges against the MP.

Lasantha Wickramatunga

"I am sure this time it will be different as there is a huge crowd behind us," said Ms Premachandra when asked whether things may not be different this time.

The international community is waiting for wrongdoings to happen so my message to the president is please do not let that happen and if the international community points the finger on Sri Lanka that happens due to your actions Hirunika Premachandra

If the family gets justice, she told BBC Sandeshaya, it might also help “other families such as Lasantha Wickramatunga,” who was killed in January 2009 in Colombo.

“I think Sri Lanka is already ranked top in Asian countries where injustice prevails,” she says.

It will be the actions of the powerful, she says, that will give reasons to the world leaders to raise concerns on rights situation in Sri Lanka.

“The international community is waiting for wrongdoings to happen so my message to the president is please do not let that happen and if the international community points the finger on Sri Lanka that happens due to your actions.”

The young law student said she salutes the young Sri Lankans who support facebook campaign seeking justice.

“Sri Lanka now needs the energy of the youth to move this country forward. So it is time the educated young generation take the lead in fighting injustice and protecting law and order.”