Former Agence France Presse (AFP) Journalist and a leading economic journalist Mel Gunasekera has been found murdered in her home in Battaramulla, a suburb of Colombo a short while ago, reports said.
Police suspect a home invasion or robbery, the reports said. There were signs of a struggle and Gunasekera has been stabbed to death, police have found.
Gunasekera was currently employed by Fitch Ratings. It is unclear if the murder is connected to her journalism.
Await further updates.
gamini / February 2, 2014
Had Mel Gunasekara the fortune of Mandana Ismail Abeywardhana, we would have known the truth. If the same happened to Mandana we would have been made to believe it was another House breaking story as Mel Gunasekara’s.
It appears that Mandana’s house breaking has been swept under the carpet. Can someone please drop a PC to the De Facto CJ as requested by him, for us to know the status quo.
Is it that they mistook Mel Gunasekara for Tissaranee Gunasekara? Oh! what a country Sri Lanka is, to live in or is it die in?
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Native Vedda / February 2, 2014
Gamini
““Oh, what a tangled web we weave…when first we practice to deceive.”
― Walter Scott, Marmion
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John / February 2, 2014
Shall we wait couple of days for Police to come out with real murderer & motive of the killing, if not attack from right & left, to govt. ???
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Sirimal / February 2, 2014
You should be a born idiot to ask us to wait, knowing the reality that murderers are nobody else the Rajapakshe men.
Even the murderers of that Uk tourist to be caught, it took them almost 2 years, and it was not because of their efforts but the pressure exercised by british premier and prince charles.
This is the reality of targeted killings of Rajapaskshe siblings.
Upcoming UNHRC session will work on all these danger – is my only hope. Wait and see.
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aratai / February 2, 2014
John,
Are you kidding? SL Police to come out with real murderer!!!
:-)
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OutRider / February 2, 2014
Hey- War Crime Mongers, Human Rights Peddlers & Pseudo Journalists:
You’re destroying any credibility still left in your self-serving, snobbish, middle-class campaign in treasonous collusion with foreign enemies against your own country and your own people by betraying your overeagerness to point fingers. You think anybody would buy your story of a government murdering a journalist just before it faces a staged drama of war crimes allegations at Geneva? Don’t be that dumb. Or are you part of a diabolical plan being hatched against Sri Lanka to pave the way for “humanitarian” intervention?
My sincere condolences to Ms. Mel Gunesekera’s family and loved ones. The government should take all measures necessary to apprehend swiftly whoever is responsible for this dastardly crime and bring them before the law.
In the meantime I would like to appeal to all our beloved CT community members not to politicize a personal tragedy and denigrate the memory of a true professional and a fine human being.
In Good Faith
OutRider
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Bensen Burner / February 2, 2014
Another journalist taken away. Very sad. Bensen
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Aman Faris / February 2, 2014
Yes, come to think of it, what happened to the break in at Mandana’s house? I believe at least one ‘burglar’ was killed by the police. What’s his identity…?
Can we have the ‘unbowed and unafraid’ Sunday Leader expose the story. Just joking, mane.
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Vibhushana / February 2, 2014
Just to outline Jaffna Vellala modus operndai. These project is “internationalisation”. The cause is maintaining Vellalr hegemony over low castes. This is the same process that forced the Dutch to declare Thesavalmai laws governing low-caste slavery.
It begins with downright lies. The 1950 “Colonisation” claim by the Federal Party was a complete lie.
The lies continue until they set fire to something. The Jaffna library was then. Today its the Uthayan newspaper.
Then killings begin. The killing are targeted to frame the govt. This is how it began after 1972 “Voddokkodai resolution”.
The killings progress to killing Police and Army. Each killing designed to provoke attacks on the Tamil minority.
I suggest prepare the Army and Police to another terrorist campaign lead by Jaffna Vellalar.
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Native Vedda / February 2, 2014
Vibhushana
We know you are a stupid person, what we didn’t know is you have lost your marbles.
Are you related to K.A Sumanasekera by any chance? Or you are in fact the alter ego of K.A Sumanasekera?
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Tamil from the north / February 3, 2014
@NV, Vibushana is a country bumpkin from Hambantota and happens to be a simpleton who also happens to be a low life racist. That’s all.
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Native Vedda / February 4, 2014
Tamil from the north
I am still awaiting his commentary on Sangam Tamil Literature. He believes that he had already mastered thinai concept and in a position to discredit bogus narratives of Tamil’s history.
He has forgotten about it, which confirms that he has completely gone gaga.
Do you still think he is a racists?
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Burning_Issue / February 2, 2014
Thesavalami applies to the Jaffna Tamils regardless of caste denominations! Dutch did not declare but codified the existing custom. I too abhore the caste system but I will not tell lies to make my point. You on the other hand austentatious and insidious; you are basically a Sinhala Buddhist racist! You wrote this in the hope of diverting attention from the article!
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Vibhushana / February 2, 2014
I could be a Sinhala Buddhist. Although neither I nor “we” have ever been responsible for creating a vulgar caste system that produce savage violence. In addition, neither I nor “we” have ever spawned a filthy culture that spawned terrorists banned in 52 countries around the world.
Its a bit rich therefore to point finger in this direction. If someone is killed naturally people of your filthy and violent culture must become the first suspects isn’t it really?.
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off the Cuff / February 2, 2014
While you are on about the caste problems among the Tamils, could you also tell how vulgar this caste issue is to your beloved triply blessed Siam Nikaya ?
Kind regards,
OTC
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Burning_Issue / February 2, 2014
Caste system is ingrained in Sinhala Buddhist society too! Did JVP hail from Mars? Why don’t you engage with your brain before putting pen to paper? May be there is nothing upstairs I take it!
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Vibhushana / February 2, 2014
Buddy, JVP came into being to destroy the class system by distributing the wealth.
LTTE on the other hand were intent on destroying the Tamil caste system. Not only was it about caste it was about race and all vulgar problems within Jaffna.
Nikaya was established during rule of South Indian Hindu king. The prevailing customs infused caste into Sinhala. Even then the Sinhala caste system did not prevent people from entering Tamples, slavery and block education etc OK?
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aratai / February 2, 2014
.
I was told Sinhalese students were taught Tamils are dirty and lower caste.
:-)
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Burning_Issue / February 2, 2014
How do you explain Buddhist Sanghas divided along the caste lines? How do you explain the Disingenuous Sinhala Buddhists using democracy as cover and did everything possible trampling on the minorities establishing themselves as superior people in Sri Lanka? I know the Sinhala historically have been jealous of the Jaffna Tamils and you undoubtedly exhibit that deep feelings!
Do whatever you like to critique the Tamils but use facts and reasons and not lies. You lied about the TNA and APRC; then you lied about Thesavalami; overplaying the Jaffna caste system while underplaying Sinhala shortcomings. When one corrects you, you react with such venom as if to say no one can put you right! You cannot seriously engage in debates with such a deceitful mindset!
Whatever the reason behind JVP’s rise, they certainly killed everyone who stood in their way. You have a such a small mind that you justify Sinhala extremism while attacking the Tamil militants; what a logic!
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ken robert / February 2, 2014
Burning issue
Vibushana is not an avatar from Ramayana vibeshna/ vibeshnan. Please do not expect logical thoughts or words of wisdom from him.
It is a sad moment for srilanka esp journalists. But I believe we should not politicise what looks like a personal tragedy.
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Burning_Issue / February 3, 2014
Ken
Yeah you are right. He wrote totally unrelated fibs in order to divert attention from this dreadful news. I do not know the circumstances of this lady’s murder but this guy assumed that it was the work of MR gang; he hoped that Tamil bashing will divert the focus!
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Native Vedda / February 4, 2014
Vibhushana
“Even then the Sinhala caste system did not prevent people from entering Tamples, slavery and block education etc OK?”
Are you sure that the Sinhala/Buddhism didn’t practice slavery? Read the following papers you will have something to talk about:
COLORED SLAVERY IN CEYLON (SRI LANKA).
by
Chandima S. M. Wickramasinghe
http://www.srilankasouthindiaheritage.org
Temple Slavery in Ancient Sri Lanka
By
Chandima S. M. Wickramasinghe
http://www.srilankasouthindiaheritage.org
Managing Female Slaves in Ancient Sri Lanka
By
Chandima S. M. Wickramasinghe
http://www.srilankasouthindiaheritage.org
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Palmsquirrell / February 3, 2014
You are Sinhala Buddhist and it is the linguistic group you identify with (Aryans) that created the caste system, and Dravidians have been suffering under this oppressive and wicked system. By doing your best to wipe out Dravidians in Ceylon, you do the bidding of those who created the caste system.
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Palmsquirrell / February 2, 2014
So we have a Sinhalese journalist murdered and somehow you find yet another excuse to bring up Vellalars.
Also, who do you think you are fooling with this faux outrage for Tamil on Tamil oppression? You could care less about lower castes Tamils and the regime you champion slaughtered tens of thousands of them.
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lal / February 2, 2014
I was made to believe that the terrorists were wiped out in May 2009, but seems not. This type of provocation has to be resisted, but leave the hunting down of culprits to the security forces.
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Burning_Issue / February 2, 2014
What if the security forces were the culprits?
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Patricia / February 2, 2014
Very soon we will realize , the incidents during the 30 years of war might be better than the incidents occurring while we are at Peace.
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Paul / February 2, 2014
That is the most ridiculous comment I have read on CT.
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Dawn Dale / February 3, 2014
what sane man/woman would wish for those terrible years again ? please see you doctor pls..
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Michael Ranasinghe / February 2, 2014
It’s quite strange that robberies take place in broad daylight . Mel would have never died if she was working for a rag like the daily news. I will stop at this. Mel i think the last time we met was when i came to drop Dayan at home and i recall you saying that life is about being honest to one’s conscience and dying for saying the truth is something no one needs to be afraid of. While i agree with you in principle in reality is it worth it trying to be truthful and stand for what is correct in country ruled by thugs who do not have brains let alone conscience ? Letting them do whatever they want and wish for and protecting your life which was invaluable would have been better. Your family and friends have been deprived of you and what you offered to life. You are in the hands of our lord while we mourn your loss for a cause you silently believed. Rest in peace dear Mel . Let the perpetrators of this cowardly act rot in hell and you will have the last laugh. It won’t be long before this happens.
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Native Vedda / February 2, 2014
lalu
We know you are a stupid person, what we didn’t know is you have lost your marbles.
Are you related to Vibushana by any chance? Or you are in fact the alter ego of Vibushana?
What has Journalist Mel Gunesekera’s untimely sad death got to do with your insanely unrelated comment?
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Kos Ata Cabraal / February 2, 2014
Mandana and Fredrica are very wise ladies indeed. They knew that discretion is the better part of valour.
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Raul / February 2, 2014
Would the break in have been an attempt to search through her papers?
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Spring Koha / February 2, 2014
The ultimate filing cabinet is up in one’s head.
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gamini / February 2, 2014
Where are those [Edited out] who allege that Journalists stage these to get across?
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Paul / February 2, 2014
‘It is unclear if the murder is connected to her journalism.’
Whether it is related or not, one thing is sure. The diaspora will make use of it.
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J.Thavarajah. / February 2, 2014
Gamini,Native.
When Donne wrote “Send not to ask for whom the Bells toll. It tolls for Thee”.This fits the Srilankan journalists excepting Lakehouse and other similar gutter newsheets,like a glove.
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Rod / February 2, 2014
She is not the AFP Jounalist. She was and now she is the Vice President at Flitch Ratings. What Colombo Telwgarpgh want to project is to say that ” another Jounalist is killed” . Typically braised reporting by CT.
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Anton (Orig) / February 2, 2014
Could this be a silent strong message ? shut up ..or you will be shut for good??????????????????
Scarey ???????????????????
How safe are all those who comment here? SLT /LANKA BELL/MOBITEL ,ETISALAT & THE HUJE! (URINE) (AKA HUTCH DE DOGGY) ? & THE WORST CUT THROAT ( DIALOG) ?
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Anton (Orig) / February 2, 2014
ETISALAT & HUJE (HUTCH DE DOGGY) ?
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Anton (Orig) / February 2, 2014
How many are aware about the secret shady Internet brigade who work in computer repair places ,and many at Dialog ( all Sinhalese Buddhist employed today at Dialog are BBS agent)
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Anton (Orig) / February 2, 2014
Dialog is the most anti Muslim Mobile network in town still Muslim are deeply committed in do or die we rather die with our beloved Dialog although she hates us.
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PingPong Malli / February 2, 2014
Yet more blood spilt in the miracle of Asia. I wonder if the BBS, Sinhala ravaya would for once, just once, have a meaningful protest about the unethical killing of journalists(or for that matter anything meaningful at all). But wait a second, isn’t telling other people how to live their lives and dictating to them how their religions should be followed, more important??? Let’s ignore all this and follow a bunch of saffron clothed bald monkeys to kill people because of their religious beliefs. The land of modayas indeed! This isn’t a Sinhala buddist country, this is a modaya country where the blind lead the lead over & over again into destruction while more blind fools cheer them on from the sidelines. Atleast open your eyes now and have a good look at who the real enemy is. It is this government and a bunch of monks that’s trying to divide and conquer us. We can work together as a team or perish together as fools! And yes its an open secret that this government has assassinated an unpredicted number of journalist and activists alike.
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Anton (Orig) / February 2, 2014
From DIALOG —You can get get any ifo with a few bucks over the counter and if it is about a Muslim its free ,who knows if you can bury the user alive ,you may even get paid,it is rumored that most of the Dialog staff abuse the organization to the core after office hours ,from call termination ,to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and many ,, oh shit man if you are dialog user.
believe it or not today this may surprise you although SLT & Mobital may be semi government but they are still known to maintain ethics far better than all other Commiseration networks ……..
Most of the best of staff have left dialog & believe it or not the bunch who are employed are NO 01 AHS & The ones holding top levels have their qualifications bought from bookshops from India & China
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Anton (Orig) / February 2, 2014
Commiseration networks -sorry to read as communication networks
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Anton (Orig) / February 2, 2014
check with CT for the safest way – if you are doing so within the Island-
best to go thru a proxy..D
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Citizen / February 2, 2014
Another severe blow for Sri Lanka at Geneva.
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shankar / February 2, 2014
Why was she killed?What was the motive?has she done anything to antagonise the powers that be?Is she a thereat to someone?
We need more information please.lets wait before jumping to conclusions.
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Chandra Seneviratne / February 2, 2014
A very sad news. It is bad time for interlectuals in Sri Lanka.
The culture created by MR regime is destined to eliminate interlectuals
who would question the regime.
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Q-A-S-S-I-M / February 3, 2014
PingPong Malli -what balls are you talking? BBS protest ? are you nuts ?
What kind of a Joke? or are you trying to Insult the family of Victim?
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Q-A-S-S-I-M / February 3, 2014
IT IS rumoured
“BBS IS THE SRI LANKA BURMESE TERROR NETWORK’S MILITARY WING ,WITH ITS EXTENDED WINGS LIKE RAVAYA ETC ,THERE ARE THOUSANDS NOW EACH IN A DIFFERENT NAME IN EACH PROVINCE ,JHU IS ITS POLITICAL WING “.
ITS FUND RAISER ARE SUPPOSE TO BE ALL OVER THE ISLAND AND WORLDWIDE ,
IN THE ISLAND -BUSINESSMAN / PEOPLE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT SECTORS & ALMOST IN EVERY WESTERN & ARAB DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS .
MOST PEOPLE WORKING AS THEIR INFORMANT ARE THREE WHEEL DRIVERS ,IT IS SAID.
MINORITIES ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THREE WHEELS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE & TO USE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR USE KNOWN ONE TO ONE TRHEEWHEELERS.
ALL THIS COULD BE SPECULATION OR MERE FABRICATION ,EVEN THE COMMUNICATION NETWORKS STORY ,BUT BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY-
IF YOU NOTICE MOST OF THE LAST CRIMES HAD THREEWHEEL CONNECTION ,THE LAST RAPE CASE OF A MATURE LADY IN COL7 BY A THREEWHEELER HAS BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET & THE WHOLE COUNTRY HAS FORGOTTEN IT , THIS IS WHAT IS SCARY ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA ,THEY FORGET SOON .
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Koko COS / February 4, 2014
Being born a Jaffna Tamil, My condolences to the family and may her soul RIP. We all hope this is not a death of a political play by the government.
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anton / February 4, 2014
OTC THE FILTHY HYPOCRITE.
off the Cuff
February 2, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Reply
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anton / February 4, 2014
On one side in Sittwe, capital of Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine, people lead a common life: They’re free to go wherever they please, marry whomever they want, and to attend religious ceremonies in their Buddhist temple of choice. On the other side, there’s a different story… Read more: http://aje.me/1frbtyl
Myanmar’s Buddhist-Rohingya ethnic divide
aje.me
Displaced Rohingya Muslims struggle with persecution and Buddhist
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