Leaked Sri Lankan State Intelligence Service documents have allegedly revealed former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa ordered the tapping of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge's phone, just weeks before he was gunned down in Colombo.
The documents, reportedly obtained by Colombo Telegraph, identified the Sunday Leader editor as a 'national security risk' and ordered tapping of his mobile phone on the 10th of September 2008. A number of other phone numbers were reportedly placed under surveillance, including current prime minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, however Wickrematunge was the only non-politician on the list. He was also the only person on the list to have been killed.
Colombo Telegraph went on to quote sources that claimed a military intelligence unit run by the former defence secretary operated from the former Tripoli Market complex.
The latest revelation comes after a Sri Lankan military intelligence officer suspected of being involved in the murder was controversially granted bail last month.