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16 January, 2009

Lasantha Wickrematunga’s last words

In the January 12 post titled “Sunday Leader’s tribute to its slain editor”, referring to the editorial in the journal’s latest issue, I wrote: “The editorial, titled ‘And then they came for me’, marked by liberal use of the first person, is what Lasantha Wickrematunga could have written.”

I also reproduced the last paragraph of the editorial.

From a press release of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong, I understand that the editorial in the January 11 issue was indeed written by Lasantha Wickrematunga himself-- shortly before his assassination on January 8.

Says AHRC: “He had been subjected to harassments and attacks before and he was fully aware that he was the target of an assassination scheme. This article entitled, ‘And they came for me’, was intended to be read posthumously in the event of his predicted assassination.”

Immediately after its appearance in the Sunday Leader on January 11, it was picked up by the media throughout the world. Already, it has been reprinted in internationally reputed publications and also picked up locally in many countries by numerous channels. It has been reproduced both in print and the electronic media. It has also been quoted in television commentaries.

The article, which has become the best known piece by a Sri Lankan author, is available in three parts on Youtube.
Part 1: http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=K86K94F5ywQ
Part 2: http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=QRE5Og5_LiY
Part 3: http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=bMyXZM-f1ww

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