By Sharmini Serasinghe –
Lasantha my friend,
THEY killed off your body,
that was just your shell.
But your Vision and Mission,
no bullet can quell!
THEY scattered your blood,
slaughtered your flesh
and did you away.
This they did,
as your Vision and Mission,
caused them great disgrace!
Thus, strength you have given,
to us, your friends,
who scribe with more fervor,
to bring to an end,
THEY, who are upon us
from the depths of Hell!
Pictures of the memorial service held at murdered Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge‘s gravesite to commemorate his fifth death anniversary today;
Shyamon Jayasinghe / January 8, 2014
Congrats, Sharmini on this beautiful poem. The slaughter of Lasantha was a dastardly,brutal and cowardly act. It has to return and haunt those who were behind it.
“Foul is fair
And fair is foul”
In this land of ours.
When will the return come
To deliver justice
With a blow likewise
To the rods of steel
That jammed his brain
And wrenched his body?
/
Adam / January 8, 2014
It looks like writing some thing, a poem,essay, or just trash blaming an unknown killer of Lasantha is the ‘new blck’.
We must condemn his kiling, by whoever, ‘cos it is the right thing to do. We must at the sametime ask ourselves some questions relating to his life and death. As a nation we have to evaluate the career and style of Lasantha.
Was he a journalist, a media owner, or both? Would a genuine independent newspaper have published articles written in his sort of style (or thelack of it)?
Through gratuitous personal attacks on people, aided by an inflated ego and the help of other non-journalists like Sonali and Frederica Jansz, and manadana Ismail, did he contrubute to his death?
Did he foresee that all above three helpers hadone ambition only – to get a green Card to perceived personal happiness?
A relevant important issue is, who financed him including after the three or four burn-downs of his press?
Why did he not, at any statge, reveal his religious affiliations to a fundamentalist Christian group at narahenpita where his funeral finally revealed the link?
Was the manner of his affair with Sonali above-water or ethical?
The full story on Lasantha, if ever came out, will probably affect the following among the “converted”.
/
Machchan / January 8, 2014
Halo-
I thing this Adam man is ask some vise qestions.
Pottery writers plees answer. I am confus.
/
JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / January 9, 2014
We do not want any body’s Birth certificate or any affiliation to any race or religion.
What we are looking at is Humanity from a Human being.
So AAAAAAAADAAAAAAAMMM,
you can fly a big KITE.
/
Adam / January 9, 2014
I insist that you read your own birth certificate to find out who your father is.
While w know you are son of a BITCH we do not know who sired a piece of scum like you.
You still haven’t learnt to press that Caps Lock button you cretin.
/
demon silva / January 9, 2014
son [Edited out] has spoken filth once again. hey adam go and look for your father who was lately sighted in ukrain.
/
crazyoldmansl / January 10, 2014
What has all this got to do with his murder? Are you saying that he and anyone else like him deserves to be murdered? Are you supporting this murder? Are you an idiot who do not know the difference between what is right and what is wrong?
/
Fathima Fukushima / January 8, 2014
Sunday leader hardly a leader
Only a fifty thousand reader
Did Lasantha fight to a finish
Good riddance to bad rubbish
/
Indrani Mayakaduwa / January 8, 2014
Who is this idiot?
/
mike / January 9, 2014
Fathima Fuk-U-shima whose brain is embedded elsewhere??
/
Tamil from the north / January 10, 2014
@Indrani Mayakaduwa, this fatshitma idiot writes a lot of garbage Indrani. You should read some of his rubbish. After reading them you might want to kill this bastard.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / January 8, 2014
He was not a traitor like so Called robbed certificate, Synthetic lawyers.
To me He is a Real Patriot to mother land, And they never DIE.
I did not know him personally,
I have never met him.
But he was One of Our HEROS.
at last, May his soul attain NIBBANA.
/
gamini / January 9, 2014
Fartima,
Before you comment on the Sunday Leader popularity, see how popular you are how many like your commenting? Numbers speak louder than words. Pathetic indeed!
/
Ben Hurling / January 9, 2014
Fathima,
King wants to offer you a free housing loan.
Happy Boot Licking in 2014!
Cheers!
/
Frodo / January 9, 2014
This idiot has his head permanently stuck up his U know what. There was a time when the Leader was the only paper worth reading. It was also a paper that was hard to come by since it got sold out very quickly on a Sunday.
/
J.Thavarajah. / January 8, 2014
A graceful& fitting poetical tribute by Sharmini.
/
Fathima Fukushima / January 8, 2014
Adios amigo
Adios my friend.
Whatever the differences we had Lasantha
You were a fearless journalist
Politicians crapped in the pants reading the leader
A rowdy bandit called you a worm
Crooks tried to kill you
But that never deterred your will
You stood tall and strong
Like a lighthouse in nowhere
May you rest in peace Lasa
Knowing you nation is finally at peace
Adios amigo
Adios my friend.
(Although Lasantha’s end benefited SL, in my view no one should be killed or harmed for his or her opinion. Those who killed Lasantha did a great service to SL but a great disservice to themselves.)
/
Gamini Mudannayake / January 8, 2014
Fathima Fukushima is a real disgrace.
‘F***ima Licking shima’ of the Rajapasse’s.
/
Lasantha Pethiyagoda / January 8, 2014
In the above picture, the veteran opposition politicians visiting the memorial service seem rather lost and undecided, almost as if they are not sure why they came…
/
Just M.E. / January 8, 2014
OH MY ELUDING FRIEND
In my journey all these
years
thirsting to catch a
glimpse
of your sweet fresh face
why you always
elude me
and I only end up
with tired old cliches
and half-truths and blatant
lies
dressed up as aging women
in heavy make-up and
bored old men
in neatly pressed shirts
trying to look solemn.
In your silence
whatever uttered is the truth.
In your absence
life is an Elizabethan tragedy where
the villain is the hero.
/
Upul / January 9, 2014
The irony of a free press is allowing those who should be free to comment, space to do just that !!! As one can see from some of the nauseating comments seen above.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / January 9, 2014
[Edited out]
/
Piranha / January 9, 2014
You idiot. What is the purpose of your life? Vermin like you don’t deserve to live and pollute this world. I hope the fate that is to befall the criminal Rajapaksas also affects you.
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SAI / January 9, 2014
It is sad ,all acts pertaining to this event is your bold reporting….the powerful family regime found you as a threat to their acquiring tons and trillions of the Nation wealth….as for now they succeeded like yours they did snuff out a colossal amount of lives….the murderers,drug addicts,corrupted officials are blackmailed by this thugs…they chose the disasterous path….their end is far approaching….is just time we will know the rulers will pay….but at such a cost……this is what happen when monkeys rule….you are such a outstanding person….one day this family will face worse then what Gaddafi,Saddam Hussein faced.IT IS NOT BRIDGES,HIGHWAYS.AIRPORTS OR HARBORS THE WORLD RECOGNISED SRI LANKA BUT OUR HUMANE CULTURE.BUT TODAY IS THE PEOPLE HAPPY JUST LIKE SINGAPORE,,WHEN A NATION PROSPER THE PEOPLE GO ALONGSIDE….THE FAMILY ROLLS THE CAPITA INCOME IN THEIR POCKETS …THEY ARE BEEN WATCHED …KARMA, KARMA KARMA…IN A BIG WAY………CRIMINALS WILL PAY…AND FROM HEAVENLY GATES YOU CAN WATCH…MY FRIEND.
REGARDS TO YOUR WIFE AND FAMILY….
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Mallaiyuran / January 9, 2014
It shouldn’t be this way. Journalist and Writers are not the ones to seek justice for Lasantha’s murder. Many opinion writers here arae seeking justice rather than commemorating the anniversary day and say condolences. This sounds like looking for revenge.
This is murder is not about differences in opinions. Further, Lasantha is best person to argue his writing. He might not need a help from anyone to put forward his ideas.
This murder is about the basic human rights. This murder was carried out to deny the rights of speak and write, not just for Lasantha, it is to deny that right for all Sri Lankans. So, it is people of Sri Lanka has to seek out the justice for this murder. It is the politician has to be on the top of this matter until this is resolved. Many of them seems to reluctant because it seems they did not like Lasanhtha, Lasantha’s cause, even more than they losing their basic rights, because their thinking also similar to that murders. Unless they come forward to do the job it is going to be recorded in the history as “the traitor and his gang’s revenges”.
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A Lasantha fan / January 9, 2014
Lovely poem I would have given anything to have met the glorious Lasantha Wickrematunge I have been a fan of good for decades
I will die his greateast fan may he rest in peace may Allah bless him and his family forever so greatly and punish all those who have hurt Lasantha
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Fathima Fukushima / January 9, 2014
13 day bride is richie rich.
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dilantha / January 10, 2014
Christian must seek American army help for protect their 500 years proud history in sri Lanka and keep Colombo economic legendary. Sinhala Buddhist youth died in1971-1987 period now reborn and started fight back what they lost in past..
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Pillai / January 10, 2014
THE JVP YOUTH WERE KILLED BY BUDDISTS.
The only minority caste fellow (Premadasa) from a rural background wiped out hopes for a more equal society by the rural, youth, minorities and those affected by the CLASS STRUGGLE.
Shame!!!
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Pillai / January 10, 2014
THE JVP YOUTH WERE KILLED BY BUDDISTS.
The only minority caste fellow (Premadasa) from a rural background wiped out hopes for a more equal society by the rural, youth, minorities and those affected by the CLASS STRUGGLE.
Shame!!!
/