Asia

Sri Lanka exhumes body of slain editor for new investigation

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A Sri Lankan police officer stands guard near the grave of Lasantha Wickrematunge, as officers prepare to exhume the remains of the newspaper editor killed seven years ago for a fresh investigation, at a cemetery in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. Wickrematunge, editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was killed while driving to work in January 2009. He was an investigative journalist who wrote about government corruption and a sharp critic of the then government's alleged human rights violations during a civil war with the ethnic Tamil rebels. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (The Associated Press)

Sri Lankan crime investigating police officers prepare to exhume the remains of murdered newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge at a cemetery in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, following a court order for a fresh investigation. Wickrematunge, editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was killed while driving to work in January 2009. He was an investigative journalist who wrote about government corruption and a sharp critic of the then government's alleged human rights violations during a civil war with the ethnic Tamil rebels. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (The Associated Press)

Sri Lankan crime investigating police officers prepare to exhume the remains of murdered newspaper editor Lasantha Wickrematunge at a cemetery in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, following a court order for a fresh investigation. Wickrematunge, editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was killed while driving to work in January 2009. He was an investigative journalist who wrote about government corruption and a sharp critic of the then government's alleged human rights violations during a civil war with the ethnic Tamil rebels. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (The Associated Press)

Sri Lankan investigators have exhumed the remains of a newspaper editor killed seven years ago to conduct a fresh investigation.

Lasantha Wickrematunge, editor of the Sunday Leader newspaper, was killed while driving to work in January 2009. He was an investigative journalist who wrote about government corruption and a sharp critic of the then-government's alleged human rights violations during a civil war with the ethnic Tamil rebels.

Athula S Ranagala, a lawyer representing his family's interests, said Wickrematunge's remains were exhumed Tuesday under a court order after police investigators sought permission for the exhumation due to contradictory medical and post-mortem reports.

Sri Lanka's new government has promised fresh investigations into killing and attacks on journalists.