News
Widow suspicious of journalist husband’s ‘traffic accident’ death
View(s):By Dilushi Wijesinghe
The Free Media Movement has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), urging that the investigation into the mysterious death of Trincomalee District journalist Priyan Malinda be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), citing serious concerns over initial enquiries.
In a letter to the IGP, the activist group, which monitors media freedom and media-related concerns, called for an urgent and transparent inquiry into the death of Mr Malinda, who died on May 17, 2025, in the Thalapathkada area of Habarana.
Journalist Priyan Malinda: Police say he died in a road accident — a claim his wife disputes
Mr Malinda primarily contributed to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the Dinamina Newspaper.
FMM convener Lasantha De Silva said the widow of journalist Mr Malinda had approached the organisation.
“She came to the Free Media Movement and gave us a statement together with documents regarding her husband’s death. She also raised several questions about the manner in which the police investigations were conducted,” Mr De Silva said.
He added that she had conveyed concerns that there were attempts to mislead the investigation. “It is for that reason that the Free Media Movement wrote to the IGP requesting that a meeting be arranged with the Director of the CID so that we can formally hand over the documents in our possession,” he said.
Mr De Silva further noted that, based on the factual material submitted to the organisation, the FMM believes there are possible discrepancies that warrant a more comprehensive and independent inquiry.
While the incident was initially reported as a road accident, Mr Malinda’s widow, H.M.R. Dinalankara, has alleged that there are reasonable grounds to suspect foul play and that her husband’s death may have been a homicide.
According to Ms Dinalankara, the circumstances of the death are “highly suspicious”, and attempts had been made to portray the incident as a road accident.
However, she noted that an open verdict was returned at the inquest into the death, reflecting the unresolved and questionable nature of the evidence presented.
She has further alleged that the initial police investigations were marked by inconsistencies and procedural shortcomings that raise doubts about the integrity of the inquiry.
Ms Dinalankara told the Sunday Times that her sole intention is to uncover the truth of her husband’s death and not to seek compensation.
The family has formally brought these concerns to the attention of the Presidential Secretariat, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and the national police chief.
The FMM, in its letter, has sought clarification from the police chief on whether any steps have been taken in response to these complaints. It has specifically requested that the investigation be transferred to the CID to ensure independence and public confidence in the process.
The group warned that the death of a journalist under controversial circumstances has broader implications for media freedom and the safety of media professionals.
It stated that both the FMM and its affiliated professional trade union would continue to monitor the case.
The International Federation of Journalists has been notified, signalling the potential for international scrutiny if concerns remain unaddressed.
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