Sri Lanka says no military officer quizzed over editor's murder

The Sri Lankan government has denied reports that the former head of the military intelligence was to be questioned over the assassination of a top newspaper editor.

"There is no plan to question military intelligence over the incident," Lakshman Hulugalle, the director general of the Media Centre for National Security said on Saturday.

He dismissed the story as a malicious attempt to discredit the government.

Lasantha Wickrematunga, the editor of the pro-opposition " Sunday Leader" was murdered on a highway in January 2009.

The police investigation on the murder has made slow progress. No accused had yet been nabbed by the investigators.

The government arrested a few military personnel last month for alleged involvement in a coup to overthrow the government.

They were aides of former Army chief and defeated presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka.

Fonseka himself is currently under custody for alleged offences committed during military service.

Source: Xinhua