COLOMBO: An international rights group Thursday expressed alarm over the Sri Lanka army's decision to reinstate an intelligence officer accused of high-profile attacks against journalists, including the assassination of a senior editor.
However, army commander Mahesh Senanayake last week told a local television network that Bulathwatte has been reinstated to boost the battle against local jihadists following the Apr 21 bombings in which 258 people died. Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge was stabbed to death by members of a military intelligence unit in January 2009. Court records have named Bulathwatte as the key suspect.The CPJ's Butler said reinstating Bulathwatte within the intelligence setup would create"new threats to journalists in Sri Lanka, who are not safe to do their jobs".
Gotabhaya, who is a US citizen, has denied involvement, but faces civil action in the United States, where a case has been filed by the slain editor's daughter.