Lasantha Wickramasekara

Some Lesser Known Facts About Lasantha Wickramasekara

• Lasantha Wickramasekara served as the council chairman of the coastal city of Weligama and was actively involved in local governance.

• He rose to prominence in local politics and served as the chairman and president of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha.

• As chairman, he was involved in local governance and frequently met with constituents to address their concerns.

• Wickramasekara emerged as one of the most influential SJB leaders in the southern province of Sri Lanka.

• On 22 October 2025, Wickramasekara was meeting constituents in his office when two gunmen arrived on a motorcycle, claiming they had come to get a letter signed.

• The attackers entered the office and fired multiple rounds at close range with a pistol, striking Wickramasekara several times. They later fled the scene.

• Lasantha was rushed to Matara General Hospital in critical condition, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. No one else was injured in the attack.

• Police launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the attacker, though the motive behind the killing remained unclear at the time.

• Lasantha’s assassination occurred amidst ongoing political tensions in Weligama, where his party, the SJB, was engaged in a bitter power struggle with the ruling party over council control.

• His killing marked the first assassination of a politician since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake‘s government came to power the previous year, which had pledged to restore law and order.