Being a political animal known for his explosive political column written under the pseudonym Suranimala, he always got activated during elections, more so during decisive elections like a presidential or a general.

Lasantha used to get a high planning election pages, making them diverse and adding a tiny scoop whenever possible.

To him, it was a time to dredge the issues, go to the villages and report it from the grassroots. Had Lasantha lived, these weeks would have excited him to no end.

A year has gone by, and in retrospect, there is much to reflect over Lasantha as an individual, on his role as a consummate journalist and his contribution to journalism.

Lasantha, just like the copies he wrote and the newspaper he conceptualised and edited for 15 long years, was either loved or hated. He did not mind the controversial tag and in fact thrived on it.

He also knew that as he was controversial in life, so he would remain in death.

As we remember him on his first death anniversary, what is not shocking is the failure of the law enforcement authorities to apprehend his killers. Though they remain unidentified, those with a miniscule of judgment would know who the killers are.

As the election campaigns hit fever pitch, Lasantha’s murder has surfaced this time as a convenient platform topic for politicians. There are politicians from both sides either lauding him and/or threatening to expose the elements behind the dastardly killing.

For 12 long months, the investigations into Lasantha Wickrematunge’s murder proved unproductive. So did the investigations into the 10 journalists killed before him, the 27 assaults and six abductions that remain unresolved. The same holds true for Richard de Zoysa killed during the UNP regime.

An investigative journalist par excellence, Lasantha was all the time unearthing something or the other. In death too, he seemed to have exposed the bankruptcy of our politicians running for high office, now trying to make political capital out of his murder.

In the frenzied campaigning that is currently going on, both main candidates have their own hurrah boys and girls trading insults over the death of the senior journalist.

The unholy spectacle includes Government politicians who point fingers at the common Opposition candidate and he in return counter alleges that it was the sinister work of a coterie of powerful people in Government.

But to the citizenry it must be crystal clear that both these candidates have more knowledge than what they are willing to share with the masses on the controversial Editor’s murder. And there lies our truth.

As Lasantha did in his lifetime, exposing corrupt politicians and public officials, the presidential election platform too is letting out a crucial secret or two perhaps. But that would not lead the murder investigation towards an acceptable conclusion in a country where the civil society has lost its voice and the media is strategically silenced.

There lies another truth. The apathy of our civil society has caused the pillars of democracy to slowly crumble. As long as we are silent about the truths that matter, there won’t be justice for any of these slain journalists, and for all others prematurely laid to rest in similar manner. Justice needs to be done for all, not just the journalists slain.

But to achieve this end, the society must demand from its political leaders, truth and justice. If Lasantha’s murder is accepted in pained silence, there will be more to endure. Perhaps breaking this silence is the biggest tribute one could pay Lasantha. Lasantha certainly raised his voice and dipped his pen in ink for others.

May his spirit live on, courageous, undaunted and questioning.